The District Chief Executive for Sefwi Juaboso, Hon. Martha Kwayie Manu, has advised basic school students in her area to desist from engaging in premarital sex in order not to be dropouts.

She urged the male students not take advantage of the girls when they gather to learn on their own.

She also encouraged the girls to resist any request by their male colleagues in having sex with them.

She believes when the students’ focus on their studies, it will help them to pass their exams and continue at the secondary level.

Teenage pregnancy she lamented is increasing on daily basis hence the need for authorities to intensify sex education to prevent such occurrences.

In a related development, a non-governmental organisation, Young Women Christian Association of Ghana, has also added its voice to the need to intensify sex education to reduce teenage pregnancy in our communities.

The leader of the NGO, Maame Naana Appiah stressed the need for students to resist the temptation of engaging in unsafe sexual practices. Such acts she warned could affect the victims and deprive them of education.

According to the Ghana Health Service, a total of 8,873 teenage pregnancies were recorded at various health facilities in the Ashanti Region between January and June 2018.

6,269 teenagers according to the directorate delivered within the same period. 192 out of the number that delivered at the various health facilities were below 15 years.

The number saw significant decrease as compared to last year’s 18,066 teenage pregnancies; 12,723 deliveries and 254 under-15 deliveries within the same period.