CSOs urged to campaign against teenage pregnancy among Kayayei

The Founder of Kunata Voluntary Organisation, Yahaya Alhassan, has called on civil society organisations (CSOs), media houses particularly in Northern Ghana, market, and the general public to support outreach programmes aimed at reducing the alarming rates of teenage pregnancy among head porters (Kayayei).

The founder of Kunata, which is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) which operates the Pamela Bridgewater Projects in Ghana, made the appeal during a special Eid al-Adha celebration organised for the Kayayei community at Maamobi in Accra. 

The event featured the distribution of sanitary pads, food, drinks and baby diapers to pregnant Kayayei girls.

“I am deeply concerned about the prevalence of teenage pregnancy among Kayayei girls,” said Mr Alhassan.

“I urge the media, market women and the public to help educate these girls on preventing teenage and unwanted pregnancies.”

Looking ahead, Mr Alhassan announced that plans were underway to continue the monthly breast care programme in October 2025 at the Kumasi Kejetia Kayayei Centre in collaboration with Dr Beatrice Wiafe, to offer free breast screening, treatment and counselling services to Kayayei and market women in the Kumasi metropolis.

He also extended congratulations to Dr Wiafe, who serves as the President of Breast Care International and CEO of Peace and Love Hospital, for receiving the U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her voluntary service in the breast care sector.

The Programme Manager, Kunata Voluntary Organisation, Hajia Kwalebu Fuseinatu Sulemana, emphasised the need for compassion and support for Kayayei girls who migrate from the north in search of work.

She applauded market women for their cooperation with the Kayayei and encouraged them to actively participate in ongoing education efforts under the Bridgewater Project.

Hajia Sulemana also addressed the issue of sexual exploitation, urging the girls to report abuse, and educated them on how to protect themselves from predators. 

She appealed to stakeholders in the sanitary pad industry to propose innovative ways to make pads more affordable for disadvantaged communities.

She commended former President John Dramani Mahama’s initiative to provide free sanitary pads to schoolgirls, describing it as a pivotal step in tackling period poverty.

“Girls face immense trauma when they cannot afford sanitary pads, and unfortunately, this vulnerability makes them targets for exploitation,” she added.