Plan International Ghana, through its Netherlands National Office (NLNO) with funding from Tony’s Chocolonely, has rolled out a two-year pilot project dubbed, “Rooting for Change,” aimed at reducing unintended adolescent pregnancies in the Suhum Municipality.
The initiative is being implemented in two cocoa-growing communities; Aponoapono and Jato, and runs from October 2024 to September 2026.
The project adopts a comprehensive and community-driven approach, focusing on empowering children and youth, especially girls and young women.
Beneficiaries receive accurate and age-appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information to boost their self-confidence, understand bodily changes, prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and avoid harmful practices.
One of the key strategy of the project is the use of football as a mobilisation tool to draw community members, particularly young girls, for sensitisation activities.
At a football competition held between adolescent girls in Jato and Aponoapono communities, Mr. Mathias Gangana, Manager for Southern Programme Influencing and Impact at Plan International Ghana, explained that the use of football helps attract large crowds, making sensitization efforts more effective.
“Most of the girls playing today are members of our children’s clubs. We use football as a venue for sensitisation. When children are occupied and given roles, they are less likely to engage in negative behaviour,” he said.
He noted that although the project only started fully in March 2025, early feedback from parents indicates that many girls have abandoned risky behaviours after participating in club activities and training sessions.
Beyond football, the project also organises routine meetings where children learn about puberty, menstrual hygiene, reproductive health, and how to handle inappropriate sexual content; topics many parents shy away from discussing at home.
Mr. Gangana emphasised that the project is designed to outlive its two-year funding period. To ensure continuity, Plan Ghana is working with several decentralised institutions, including the Ghana Education Service (GES), Ghana Health Service (GHS), Social Welfare, DOVVSU, and community-based committees.
“We have community child protection committees and peer educators; boys and girls who conduct peer education. These structures will remain in the community even when we are no longer there,” he stated.
Madam Sophia Darteh, Finance and Administration Officer at the Suhum Municipal Education Directorate, affirmed that the project has already contributed to a decline in teenage pregnancy cases.
“Before their intervention, Aponoapono and Jato recorded many teenage pregnancies. But now, the cases have reduced significantly. In Aponoapono, the CISO confirmed that last year, no teenage pregnancy was recorded,” she revealed.
She added that the positive trend also reflected in the BECE period, with no recorded teenage pregnancy cases among candidates.
“The girls are also improving academically. We are grateful for this intervention and hope it is expanded to other schools within the municipality,” she appealed.
The Chief of Jato, Barfuor Nene Adjewi Narh III, praised the project for its impact on reducing teenage pregnancy and GBV in the community.
He noted that the establishment of a child protection committee, which collaborates with the police, has strengthened efforts to curb domestic violence and child abuse.
For young girls in Jato and Aponoapono,the “Rooting for Change” program has significantly reduced sexual harassment , and increased awareness among parents on their responsibility to provide basic needs particularly for menstrual hygiene management.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
