Joycelyn Tetteh, MP for North Dayi with pupils of Botoku D/A JHS during their visit to parliament
An urgent call by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for North Dayi in the Volta Region, Joycelyn Tetteh, for teenagers to be introduced to sex education and the use of condoms as a way of protecting themselves against teenage pregnancies and other sexually transmitted diseases caused a stir in parliament yesterday.
The call was openly supported by the NDC MP for Kintampo South, Felicia Adjei and New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alex Afenyo-Markin who said it was time the youth were encouraged to use condoms as way of protecting themselves against teenage pregnancies.
The MP for Effutu said the society should not behave like the ostrich because the reality is that teenagers are having sex and it is important they are told to use condom even though abstinence is the best.
The Effutu MP pointed out that abstinence is the best but lack of parental care, peer pressure and technological advancement and use of drugs have combined to expose the teenager to the reality of wanting to have sex and therefore encouraging the youth to use condom during sex will save them from ‘trouble’
Some other MPs like the Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka and NDC MP for Wa Central, Rashid Pelpuo were, however, against the argument that the youth must be taught how to use condoms to prevent teenage pregnancies stressing that the only advice to be given to the youth is to completely abstain from sex till they get married.
The debate on whether to use condom or not by teenagers was ignited when the NDC MP for North Dayi made a statement on the increasing incidence of teenage pregnancy in her constituency which is affecting the education of the girl child in her constituency.
“Mr Speaker, sex education in our basic schools must be taught and parents ought to be very much interested in the extracurricular activities of their children. We must begin as a country to teach safe sex practices amongst the youth instead of assuming our children are ignorant of sex and sexuality as a topic” she said adding that condoms must be mentioned while preaching abstinence as generally recommended
“Mr Speaker, as we discuss innovative ways to prevent our youth, particularly, teenage girls from getting pregnant, we must find ways of integrating pregnant girls into our schools when they are delivered or their babies,” she noted
The statement by the MP for North Dayi coincided with a visit by pupils from Botoku D/A JHS in her constituency who had come to witness proceedings in parliament.
The Speaker of Parliament saw the statement as very important and asked the Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection to consider the statement and make useful recommendations for adoption by the House.
By Thomas Fosu Jnr