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The South Tongu District has recorded 190 teenage pregnancies between January and June 2026, according to data presented by District Public Health Nurse, Ms. Rachelle Elikem Zewu.
Speaking during a mid-year health review presentation, Ms. Zewu highlighted the figures as a growing concern for the district’s health and education sectors. She said the trend continues to put adolescent girls at risk of dropping out of school, facing health complications, and economic hardship.
The District Public Health Nurse noted that most of the cases were recorded in communities with limited access to adolescent reproductive health services and comprehensive sexual education. She attributed the surge to factors including peer pressure, poverty, inadequate parental guidance, and limited youth-friendly health facilities.
“These numbers are worrying. We need to intensify education, community engagement, and provide accessible health services for adolescents to make informed choices,” Ms. Zewu said.
She added that the District Health Directorate, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, NGOs, and traditional authorities, is rolling out targeted interventions. These include school health programs, community durbars, and training for teachers and health workers to support teenage girls and prevent further cases.
Stakeholders at the meeting called for stronger parental involvement and for traditional leaders to enforce by-laws that protect girls from early sexual activity and forced marriages.
The 190 cases recorded in the first six months of 2026 have already raised concerns that the district could surpass last year’s total if urgent measures are not taken.
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