Parents in the Eastern Region have been urged to take a more active role in guiding their children through adolescence, particularly on issues concerning sexual and reproductive health, gender-based violence and healthy relationships.
The call was made during engagements organised by the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to equip parents with the knowledge and skills needed to better support adolescents at home.
The engagements, held at Akoase in the Birim North District and Nkawkaw in the Kwahu West District, brought together 120 parents as part of the Adolescent Girls Programme (AGP).
Mr Michael Agyeman, Eastern Regional Programme Focal Person, said the initiative formed part of the UNFPA-Government of Ghana Eighth Country Programme, sponsored by the Canadian Government.
He said the programme was designed to empower young people, particularly adolescent girls, with information, education and access to services that would help them make informed decisions and develop into responsible adults.
According to him, involving parents was essential because the conversations on adolescent sexual and reproductive health needed to continue beyond the classroom.
He explained that the parent engagements followed earlier sessions with students, allowing parents to understand the issues discussed with their children and provide appropriate guidance at home.
“The idea was that, after meeting the students, we should also meet the parents and discuss the same issues with them so they can appreciate what the adolescents are going through,” he said.
Mr Agyeman said parents were expected to use the knowledge acquired to communicate openly with their children and help them make decisions that would positively shape their future.
The training was facilitated by personnel from the Ghana Health Service and other institutions, who addressed issues affecting adolescents and the responsibilities of parents and communities in creating supportive environments for young people.
Madam Edith Asiedua, a Public Health Nurse at the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, urged parents to promote positive masculinity among boys and young men by encouraging healthy attitudes and behaviours.
She said positive masculinity could contribute to the prevention of violence, healthier relationships and peaceful coexistence within families and communities.
Madam Asiedua also sensitised parents on gender-based violence and encouraged them to pay close attention to changes in their children’s behaviour, which could indicate that a child was experiencing abuse.
She said parents had a critical responsibility to create safe and supportive homes, stressing that children often developed behaviours and attitudes based on what they observed within their families.
She therefore encouraged parents to model respect, avoid violence and maintain open communication with their children, particularly when discussing relationships, gender and conflict resolution.
Parents were also introduced to referral pathways for cases of abuse and advised to seek professional assistance whenever children experienced or faced the risk of violence and abuse.
Madam Asiedua identified the Ghana Education Service, Department of Gender, Social Welfare, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and community leaders as important stakeholders in responding to gender-based violence.
The engagements are expected to strengthen the capacity of parents to provide informed guidance and create safer home environments where adolescents can discuss challenges and seek appropriate support.
