Accra: The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has stepped up efforts to address the twin challenges of adolescent reproductive health and gender-based violence (GBV) in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality. The Municipal Directorate of the Commission has brought together a broad range of stakeholders to provide a common platform to dialogue, reflect, and take action to address the challenges.

According to Ghana News Agency, the engagement, held at Nkawie, drew participants from youth groups, men and women’s associations, faith-based organisations, traditional authorities, government agencies, and health facilities. It was organised under the theme ‘Empowering Community and Youth for Adolescent Health, Gender Equality, and Preventing Gender-Based Violence through Civic Engagement’ with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Global Affairs Canada.

Mr. Emmanuel Kwadwo Wiredu, the Municipal Director of the NCCE, stressed that reproductive health and gender-based violence issues could no longer be treated as peripheral concerns. He explained that the initiative formed part of activities under UNFPA’s 8th Country Programme (2023-2027), which was being rolled out in selected districts across Ghana. According to him, the NCCE was determined to ensure that interventions at the community level were ‘locally owned, culturally sensitive, and inclusive’.

‘Through this stakeholder engagement, we are fostering partnerships between service providers, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and young people themselves,’ he stated. The session moved beyond speeches to lively, solution-driven discussions, co-facilitated by experts across different institutions, including Dr. Justice Thomas Sevugu, Municipal Director of Health Service, ASP John Tetteh and Chief Inspector Cecilia Owusu from the Ghana Police Service, and Mr. Seth Ampomah, the Municipal Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development.

Issues discussed during the engagement included how to strengthen responses to adolescent pregnancy in communities and tackling myths and stigma surrounding family planning and adolescent health. Others were establishing clearer referral pathways for victims and survivors, preventing gender-based violence and promoting safer, respectful relationships as well as building resilient support networks for young people.

Mr. Wiredu paid tribute to UNFPA and Global Affairs Canada for supporting NCCE to drive the initiative. He expressed confidence that the programme would go a long way in strengthening collaboration among institutional and community actors to promote adolescent health, gender equality, and the fight against gender-based violence in the municipality.