The Upper East Regional Adolescent Health Focal Person, Dora Kulariba, has bemoaned the alarming rate of teenage pregnancy in the Upper East Region, revealing that the region has recorded 4,540 teenage pregnancies between January and October 2025.
She noted that the number of teenage pregnancies recorded over the years remains a major source of worry, stressing that teenagers who cannot abstain from sexual activity must endeavour to protect themselves from pregnancy.
Between January and October 2025, the region has already recorded 4,540 teenage pregnancies, with the number set to rise rapidly as the festive season approaches.
“The figures we have here are actuals. We have counted the number of girls who got pregnant between the ages of 10 and 19 years. If you look at Bawku West, we had high numbers of over 700 girls coming to the facility to access services, followed by Pusiga District. My heart still aches because we hit 4000 even though the year has not ended.
So let’s protect if we can’t abstain,” she said while addressing participants at a Regional Stakeholders Dialogue on Combating Teenage Pregnancies and Sexual Abuse in Schools to mark World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence held on November 22, 2025, in Bolgatanga.
Teenage pregnancy remains a major developmental challenge in the region despite governmental and non-governmental interventions.
Last year, 4,721 teenage pregnancies were recorded. In the ten months of 2025, 4,540 pregnancies have been recorded already, sparking fears that the number could surpass last year’s in spite of efforts to deal with the canker.
The worst hit district is the Bawku West, which recorded 713 pregnancies, while the least affected is Bolgatanga East with 85.
Stakeholders have blamed the alarming rate of teenage pregnancies on weak enforcement of existing child protection and sexual-offence laws, stigma, the culture of silence, limited access to sexual and reproductive health education, economic vulnerability, and inadequate support systems among others.
