Female Tricycle and Motorcycle Drivers Responsible for Teenage Pregnancies in Central Region – Report

Research conducted by the Central Region office of the National Youth Authority (NYA) showed that perpetrators of teenage pregnancies, child marriages and sexual and gender-based violence are mostly commercial tricycle and motorcycle drivers.

The research was conducted based on reports that incidents of sexual and gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were increasing in the region.

Ms. Anita Nana Seguah Ansah, Central Regional Director of NYA, made this known during a one-day train-the-trainer workshop for tricycle and motorcycle drivers to sensitize them on the negative effects of pregnancy in adolescent girls, child marriage and other harmful practices.

It was organized by NYA in collaboration with the Central Regional Coordinating Council and sponsored by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to help reduce incidents of teenage pregnancy and child marriages in the region.

Participants were from Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem, Cape Coast, Assin Fosu, Awutu Senya East (Kasoa), Gomoa East, Agona East and Agona West.

Ms Ansah said based on the report, the NYA conducted research mainly involving tricycle and motorcycle drivers.

The regional director expressed hope that the runners will return to their various destinations to be good ambassadors and disseminate information to others to ensure reduction in cases of sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and pregnancies among adolescent girls.

Similar workshops have been held in Gomoa West, Cape Coast and other districts and feedback received by NYA indicates that the situation is improving.

The director said the NYA was making all efforts to replicate the workshop in all districts in the region to reduce sexual and gender-based violence, child marriage and sexually transmitted infections among the youth.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police (ASP), Ms. Vida Yankey, Agona Swedru District Commander, who spoke on sexual and gender-based violence, causes, effects and punishment, expressed concern over the alarming rate of cases of defilement and teenage pregnancy in Swedru Municipality.

ASP Yankey, who is also the Agona Swedru Divisional Coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, has warned tricycle and motorcycle drivers to stop engage in such crimes as they could be imprisoned for at least 15 years. once caught.

The DOVVSU Divisional Coordinator further explained the penalties attached to rape, defilement, incest, sexual harassment and other related domestic violence issues and warned the riders to stop them to ensure the peace.

Ms. Abigail Appiah, an educator with the Plan Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), who spoke on STIs, warned the riders of the dangers and urged them to use condoms to avoid contracting infections.

She warned them against self-medication, which would lead to excessive consumption of antibiotics when suffering from STIs, and urged them to report to a health facility for proper treatment.

Mrs Docas Sam-Mensah, Public Health Nurse at the Agona West Municipal Health Directorate, urged runners to be responsible and take their health issues seriously to avoid complications.

She expressed concern over the numerous cases of teenage pregnancies recorded in the municipality and attributed them to poverty, lack of education and good parental protection and control.

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