Source ghanaeducation.org
News Ghana
Upper East Region Records 2,436 Teenage Pregnancies in Just 5 Months
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed that 2,436 teenage pregnancies were recorded in the Upper East Region between January and May 2025. This alarming statistic has reignited public debates about how to effectively address teenage pregnancy in Ghana.
Reacting to the report, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, expressed deep concern over the high rate of teenage pregnancies in the Upper East Region.
According to data shared at the regional review meeting, the 2,436 cases represent only the first five months of the year. The disturbing revelation came during discussions on the Essential Services Package (ESP) for women and girls subjected to violence. The meeting aimed to find lasting solutions to the factors that put women and young girls at risk.
Out of the total cases, 25 pregnancies involved adolescents aged 10 to 14 years, while 2,411 cases involved girls aged 15 to 19 years. This means that 10-year-old girls are being defiled and put in a family way. The need for the entire nation to take this issue more seriously is now to help the girl child and parents.
The possibility of teenage mothers giving birth to unwanted babies, dropping out of school, and facing shattered dreams adds to the growing societal burden.
The ESP meeting, where this data was made public, sought to help service providers coordinate efforts to support survivors of gender-based violence, identify gaps in services, and strengthen interagency collaboration.
Dr. Apaak, who also serves as Deputy Minister of Education and Member of Parliament for Builsa South, described the teenage pregnancy situation as “terrible news.”
The 2,436 Teenage Pregnancies by District in Upper East
The 2,436 teenage pregnancies reported in the Upper East Region cover 15 districts.
According to Ghana Health Service (GHS) data:
- Bawku West District recorded the highest number of cases with 372.
- Pusiga followed with 276 cases.
- Bongo recorded 212 cases.
- Bawku West District 372
- Pusiga 276
- Bongo 212
- Talensi 210
- Kassena Nankana West 198
- Kassena Nankana Municipal 196
- Bolgatanga Municipal 152
- Bawku Municipal 147
- Tempane 123
- Garu 118
- Builsa South 116
- Nabdam 100
- Binduri 86
- Builsa North 78
- Bolgatanga East 52
Dr. Apaak stated, “This is terrible news. We must, as a matter of urgency, identify and address the causal factors to prevent this from happening again.”
How to Address Teenage Pregnancies in Upper East—The Way Forward
Dr. Apaak called on all stakeholders to help establish systems that will educate and inform families, young girls, and society at large to halt this worrying trend.
He emphasized the need for supportive mechanisms for girls already affected, stating, “While at it, we must put in place mechanisms to assist those who are already in this situation. We cannot, and must not, neglect or abandon them.”
The meeting, organized by the Department of Gender with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), brought together stakeholders from the Ghana Health Service (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 Upper East Region Records 2,436 Teenage Pregnancies in Just 5 Months is alarming and needs urgent attention.
