In the heart of Ghana’s Eastern Region, a silent crisis is unfolding. More than one hundred children born to teenage mothers in the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency do not know their fathers, as men linked to the pregnancies deny responsibility.
Behind the numbers are shattered dreams, abandoned classrooms, and girls forced into adulthood far too early. Despite interventions by NGOs and UNICEF, sexual abuse, poverty, and impunity continue to trap minors in cycles of exploitation, raising urgent questions about justice, protection, and the future of the girl child.
In Ofoase-Ayirebi, childhood is being cut short.
Hundreds of teenage girls are becoming mothers before they fully understand what adulthood means. Many of them now carry a heavier burden, raising children whose fathers have disappeared or denied responsibility.
Data from the Ark Development Organisation reveals that out of more than one hundred and fifty identified teenage mothers, a significant number of their children have no acknowledged fathers. The trend, they say, is worsening.
Poverty, vulnerability, and silence have created fertile ground for abuse. Girls seeking basic support are lured, coerced, or exploited, often by men who later walk free, leaving lifelong consequences behind.
For many victims, education ends abruptly. Dreams of becoming nurses, teachers, or security officers are replaced with stigma, fear, and survival.
Despite modest progress through the UNICEF-supported SPREAD project, sexual and gender-based violence remains deeply rooted. Advocates warn that without accountability and stronger protection systems, the cycle will continue.
These are not just statistics. They are stolen childhoods. And a future still waiting for justice.
By Peter Quao Adattor/paqmediagh
