UNFPA Country Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan presenting items to the adolescent girls of the Nana Afrakoma II Vocational Centre. Also in the shot is Hon. Thomas Ampem Nyarko, MP for the Asuogyaman District, Nanaheema Adwoa Awindor, CEO of the Obaapa Development Foundation and UNFPA Ghana Staff.

As part of efforts to ensure no one is left behind, including adolescent girls and mothers, UNFPA makes Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and services available and accessible to all to encourage family planning which promotes good health and well being. The UNFPA Ghana Country Office used the opportunity of the 'Odwira Akyi Adaekese Dapaa' Observation by the Akwamu Traditional Council to present equipment to the Vocational Centre by the Queen Mother of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Nana Afrakoma II.

The gesture came on the back of the need to invest in the potential of young people, particularly, marginalized young women whose early and unintended pregnancies usually cause them societal neglect, leading to inequality and poverty. The outreach and support to the Vocational Centre in Akwamuman is against the backdrop of the visit of the former first Vice President of Costa Rica, Her Excellency Epsy Campbell and the UN Under Secretary-General & UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Natalia Kanem to Ghana in May 2022 for the ‘Return Mission’ to empower persons of African descent. The UNFPA Ghana Country Office handed over items including sewing machines, mattresses as well as other equipment to facilitate vocational training for adolescent mothers living within the Akwamu Traditional Area.

With adolescent girls at the Nana Afrakoma Vocational Centre.

Speaking at the ceremony to handover the items to the Vocational Centre, the UNFPA Ghana Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan stated, ‘I want to use this occasion to appreciate you in a very special way for setting up the vocational Institute and most especially for taking the bold decision to give adolescent mothers a second chance by giving them livelihood skills and empowering them to stand on their own.’

Dr. Ochan added that, ‘we need to deploy the empowerment of adolescent girls as a strategic tool to enable them to avoid teenage pregnancies which can rob them of the opportunity to maximize their potential in life.

Courtesy Call

The Country Representative also used the opportunity to pay a courtesy call on the paramount ruler of the Akwamu Traditional Area, His Royal Majesty, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III. He thanked him for his support for the UNFPA mandate and assured him of the willingness of UNFPA to continue working in conjunction with traditional leaders to ensure the increase in uptake of family planning services, reduction in maternal deaths and elimination of Sexual & Gender-Based Violence and other harmful practices.

UNFPA Ghana Representative, Dr. Wilfred Ochan exchanging pleasantries with His Royal Majesty, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III