Effutu Chiefs Must Join The Fight Against Teen Pregnancies In The Central Region
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan, has called on traditional leaders to collaborate with stakeholders in reducing the spate of teen pregnancies in the region.
Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater 
The Central Regional Minister, Mrs. Justina Marigold Assan, has called on traditional leaders to collaborate with stakeholders in reducing the spate of teen pregnancies in the region.
She pointed out that a concerted and decisive approach to control the surging menace in the region should be adopted as a matter of urgency to help protect girls to achieve their prospective ambitions.
The Minister appealed when she was addressing the chiefs and people of Effutu Traditional Area in a grand durbar held to climax its weeklong activities to commemorate this year’s Aboakyer Festival.
Preceding the durbar was the famous hunting of a live deer by the two Asafo Companies (Tuafo and Dentsefo), from the sacred forest, which was presented to Oma Odefe at the durbar for him to step on three times as tradition demands.
The festival was held on the theme: “Together we build the road to a progressive society.”
This year’s first catch after the hunting expedition was brought by Tuafo Asafo Company to the durbar grounds at 0800hours.
At exactly 0704 hours, news broke out that the Tuafo had made the first catch which led to wild jubilation among the gathering at the durbar grounds, some of whom left the place to welcome the victorious Asafo Company from its hunting expedition.
Information gathered also indicated that Dentsefo Number two company made a catch but failed to send it to the grounds for unknown reasons
Addressing the gathering, the Central Regional Minister applauded the chiefs and people of the area for celebrating this year’s festival peacefully and expressed the hope that they would continue to sustain and improve on a united front to forge development.
She also thanked all who in diverse ways contributed to a peaceful and successful celebration and hoped it would pave the way for investors and tourists to visit the community.
She mentioned that teenage pregnancy in the region was on the ascendancy and therefore appealed to the chiefs to help fight the menace.
She stated that pares, and traditional and religious leaders must play a lead role in the campaign against teenage pregnancies in local communities to ensure the girls attain their full potential.
The Minister said the government is ready to help in curbing the menace and, therefore, called for continuous support from opinion leaders and stakeholders in the Region.
She advised parents to monitor the movements of their daughters and endeavor to provide them with their basic needs.
Mrs. Assan said teenage pregnancy impeded the growth and development of girls and prevented them from reaching their full potential.
Neenyi Ghartey VII, Effutu Oma Odefe, in his address, stated that no matter how arduous the adventure into the thicket to hunt for a live deer, the practice would be sustained to honor their ancestors and protect their historic culture for posterity.
Neenyi Ghartey informed the gathering that the theme for this year’s celebration was selected on purpose because the Effutu Paramountcy believed in the importance of every member of the community and how special their contributions were towards the total growth and development of the area.
According to him, Effutuman had enjoyed remarkable progress with the construction of a safe landing facility and with regard thanked President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government, and expressed the hope that when commissioned, fish hygiene would be improved just as the safety of canoes.
He appealed to the government to construct an ultra-modern market for them, saying the current state of the market in Winneba Township was not the best.
