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Cohabitation, cause of high teenage pregnancy at Cape Coast — Social Welfare Officer
The Cape Coast Metropolitan Director of Social Welfare, Mr. Okine Mustapha Aryee, has called on the chiefs and family heads within the Oguaa Traditional Area, to institute punitive measures against men who impregnate girls out of wedlock in the municipality.
He said that cohabitation among the youth was becoming a norm in the metropolis thereby contributing to a high rate of teenage pregnancies in the town.
The situation, he said, had become necessary due to a number of parental neglect and wondered why people must be left to experiment with marriage which was supposed to be a sacred and serious business.
Mr Aryee made the proposal at a stakeholder engagement organised by the Oguaa Traditional Council with the support of the Member of Parliament for Cape Coast South, Mr Kweku Rikkets Hagan to address a number of challenges confronting the traditional area.
He stated that, most of the men who were responsible for the pregnancies sometimes refused to take up responsibility after the ladies had been impregnated.
Marriage, he said, was not mandatory and that, those who were not ready should not try to experiment it for fun, saying, “Marriage is a serious business”.
“Most of the men who refused to take responsibility, are now paying for the upkeep of their children at the Social Welfare department after the mothers have reported them to the department,” he said.
The Metropolitan Director said that drivers, fishermen and teachers were the highest number of men responsible for such teenage pregnancies in the metropolis which was affecting the development of children in the area.
He mentioned parental irresponsibility as also one of the major causes of teenage pregnancy and urged parents to support the efforts in moulding their children.
The Omanhen of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, in his address, expressed concern about the rate of road accidents and called for action to address the situation.
He expressed worry about the rate of teenage pregnancies in the area and called on the youth to be committed to their studies.
The MP, Mr. Kweku Rickket Hagan, who chaired the event expressed concern about the poor performance of pupils at the basic education level which he said denied majority of them the opportunity to gain admission into some of the elite Senior High Schools within the metropolis
On his part, the MP for Cape Coast North, Mr Minta Nyarko also urged the residents to explore the various opportunities opportunities available for the development of the area.
From David O. Yarboi-Tetteh, Cape Coast
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
