The Upper East Region reported 2,436 cases of teenage pregnancies between January and May 2025, raising public concern about the health, welfare, and future of adolescent girls in the area. Among these cases, 25 involved girls aged 10 to 14 years, while the remaining 2,411 were ages 15 to 19.
These statistics were presented by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) during a regional review meeting focused on the Essential Services Package (ESP) for women and girls who have experienced violence. The meeting was organized by the Department of Gender with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and brought together stakeholders from various organizations, including the GHS, Ghana Education Service (GES), Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Legal Aid Commission, Department of Social Welfare, Judiciary Service, and Civil Society Organizations.
The meeting aimed to review progress under the ESP, which is a framework for service providers to coordinate efforts to support survivors of gender-based violence, identify gaps in service provision, and strengthen coordination among service providers.
District breakdown
The data showed that Bawku West District recorded the highest number with 372 cases, followed by Pusiga (276), Bongo (212), Talensi (210), Kassena Nankana West (198), Kassena Nankana Municipal (196) and Bolgatanga Municipal (152). Other districts included Bawku Municipal (147), Tempane (123), Garu (118), Builsa South (116), Nabdam (100), Binduri (86), Builsa North (78), with Bolgatanga East recording the lowest with 52 cases.
Alarming trend
Presenting the data, Health Information Officer at the Regional Health Directorate, Ms Charity Tanni, described the trend as alarming saying it must be tackled head-on to safeguard the future of adolescent girls. She called for collective efforts to prevent adolescent pregnancies, which often resulted in school dropout, poor maternal health, and future economic hardship for the girls involved.
Court and police frustrations
Mr. James Akandi, the Registrar at the Bolgatanga Circuit Court, reported that there are currently 24 gender-based violence cases before the court, of which 14 are defilement cases. He expressed concern that many cases take a long time to resolve due to limited resources and witnesses’ failure to appear in court.
Additionally, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mariam Awemoni, the Regional DOVVSU Coordinator, highlighted the challenges caused by poor coordination between her office and district-level DOVVSU units. This lack of coordination hinders both case tracking and accurate data collection. “Unless a case is reported directly to us, we are unable to obtain data from the districts on cases and their progress, as the district units report to the District Commander, who in turn reports directly to the national level,” she explained.
Call to action
James Twene, the Acting Regional Director of the Department of Gender, emphasized the importance of collaboration among institutions, effective data management, and timely follow-up on cases to ensure that survivors receive the justice and protection they deserve. Additionally, Yvonne Wonchua, the UNFPA Focal Person at the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, urged all stakeholders in the Emergency Support Program (ESP) to work together to mobilize resources and enhance infrastructure and psychosocial support for survivors of violence.
By: Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
