The youth have been cautioned against the use of emergency contraceptives, as they are not designed to be used on a regular basis and their abuse could be detrimental to one’s health.
The Youth Programme Officer of the PPAG, for the Western and Central Regions, Michael Tagoe, expressed worry that the misuse of contraceptives is high among the youth and can have dire consequences on their reproductive system.
He was addressing members of faith-based youth groups at a capacity building workshop on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights at Twifo Hemang in the Central Region.
Mr Tagoe said the youth must be educated on their reproductive sexuality and its related issues to equip them with knowledge, which will also help in reducing sexually transmitted infections.
He advised girls to stay off self-induced abortions because it is unsafe and criminal.
The Sexual Offenses and Domestic Relations Investigator at DOVVSU, Corporal Richard Twum, educated participants on sexual offenses and related punishments.
He cautioned that perpetrators of rape, defilement, incest and indecent assault could face jail terms.
Corporal Twum condemned parents who sideline issues of sexuality and fail to expose perpetrators who are either friends, relations or acquaintances, thereby exposing their children to danger with the culprits walking free.
The Regional Director of the National Youth Authority, Emmanuel Martey, said religious organisations are often reluctant to openly discuss sexuality or reproductive health issues on the basis of morality.
This, he said, keeps majority of them in perpetual ignorance and called for more awareness to sensitise the youth to the subject.
