News
VR records 6,139 teenage pregnancies
One-hundred-and sixty-five girls between 10 and 14 years got pregnant in the Volta Region last year.
Out of this figure, 23 were recorded in the Akatsi South District, 21 in the Ketu North Municipality while Ho and Ketu South Municipalities recorded 14 cases each.
Also, 5,974 teenagers within the age group of 15 and 19 got pregnant during the same period.
This brings the total number of underage and teenage pregnancies in the region in 2020 to 6,139.
Out of the total figure, 774 were recorded in the Ketu South Municipality, followed by South Tongu District with 466 cases and then Keta Municipality with 464 cases.
The municipalities of Ketu North and Hohoe recorded 444 and 440 cases respectively while North Tongu District also recorded 414 cases.
Madam Florence Gyaase-Nketiah, Deputy Volta Regional Director of Nursing (Public Health) made the startling revelation to The Spectator at Ho on Tuesday.
She said that the Akatsi North District recorded 94 cases which was the least number of the pregnancies.
According to her, the health authorities in the region were working vigorously with the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, and the United Nations Sexual and Reproductive Health Agency, UNFPA to curb the trend significantly.
The Deputy Director of Nursing entreated parents to talk openly with their children on sexuality, saying the “world is changing and so are the body development stages of our children.”
She expressed concern over the usual silence on the identities of the men who impregnated under-aged girls in the communities and called on all and sundry to help to expose the perpetrators for the appropriate action to be taken against them.
She again said that the 6,139 cases of underage and teenage pregnancies were among the 45,411 antenatal registrations in the region last year.
Still on the underage and teenage pregnancy figures, the Adaklu and Afadzato South Districts recorded 121 and 117 respectively, while Akatsi South recorded 392 cases, with 273 of such pregnancies occurring in the Anloga District and 300 in the Ho West District.
The rest are Kpando Municipality, 309; North Dayi District, 137; South Dayi, 302 and Agotime Ziope 181.
News
People of Volta Region will soon have a sigh of relief- Roads and Highways Minister
The Minister for Roads and Highways has assured that the people of Volta Region will soon have a sigh of relief.
This follows an update from the Ministry on the Ho-Aflao Road and Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road
The government has taken steps to fulfill its promise to reconstruct the Ho-Aflao and the Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road.
Yesterday, the Minister, Kwame Agbodza, accompanied by the deputy minister, Alhassan Suhuyini, led a team of engineers from the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ghana Highway Authority to assess the conditions of the roads and plans for urgent intervention.
Mr.Agbodza indicated the whereas the Ho-Aflao Road will be reconstructed under the Big Push Agenda of President John Mahama, the Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road will be funded through the Roads Ministry’s 2025 budgetary allocation.
The Minister further explained that feasibility studies, drawings, and designs for the Ho bypass are almost complete, with procurement and construction set to begin soon.
News
Gender Minister participate in 2025 IWD Women’s Dialogue
On Saturday March 8, 2025, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, participated in the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) Women’s Dialogue.
The event, held under the patronage of Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, brought together policymakers, leaders, and advocates to discuss the theme: “Resetting the Agenda for Women: Accelerating Action on Women’s Rights, Equity, and Empowerment.”
The dialogue aimed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while addressing the challenges they continue to face.
It also provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions that would accelerate action on women’s rights and empowerment, fostering collaboration on gender equality initiatives.
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need for inclusive and sustained efforts to promote women’s leadership, economic empowerment, and educational advancement.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reiterated the urgency of accelerating action on women’s rights, equity, and empowerment.
She acknowledged the progress made in advancing gender equality but stressed that significant challenges remain, particularly in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
She emphasized that discussions should go beyond identifying these challenges to taking deliberate and transformative actions to address them. She called for concrete steps to turn commitments into lasting change, urging stakeholders to work together to develop policies, shift societal norms, and economically and politically empower women.
Underscoring the theme “Resetting the Agenda for Women: Accelerating Action on Women’s Rights, Equity, and Empowerment,” the Minister called for a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and drive real, measurable change.
She urged policymakers, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on initiatives that empower women economically, challenge societal norms, and create inclusive spaces for women’s voices to be heard.
The Minister further emphasized that:
“Gender equality is not just about rights—it is about ensuring that women have the power and resources to shape their own destinies and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
She reaffirmed President John Dramani Mahama’s Government commitment to advocating for gender equity and encouraged meaningful dialogue to inspire actionable strategies.
In conclusion, she called on all participants to actively contribute to shaping a future where women’s rights are fully realized, emphasizing that every action counts in achieving true gender equality.
