Sanaa:North East Region Over 1,000 girls have been forced into marriage in the first half of 2026 due to poverty, unemployment, and inadequate parental care. A total of 1,252 girls were married off during this period, marking a significant increase from 903 cases in the previous half-year.
According to Ghana Web, the North East Regional Focal Person on Adolescent Health, Pang-bot S. Biiya, presented data to the Regional Coordinating Council indicating a 38.6% rise in child marriages. Meanwhile, teenage pregnancy rates have slightly decreased from 15.39% to 14.88%, suggesting that many pregnant teenagers are being pushed into marriage.
East Mamprusi and West Mamprusi districts have seen the sharpest increases in child marriage cases, with East Mamprusi rising from 137 to 367 cases, and West Mamprusi nearly tripling from 115 to 350 cases. Mamprugu-Moagduri recorded a slight decrease in cases, while Chereponi and Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri saw small increases. Yunyoo-Nasuan was the only district with a significant drop, from 88 to 24 cases.
Despite improvements in the regional average for teenage pregnancies, West Mamprusi remains the highest, with 17.09% of pregnancies being among teenagers. Other districts, such as East Mamprusi and Mamprugu-Moagduri, also report high percentages of teenage pregnancies.
Public Health Nurse Ayembire Kweku from the West Mamprusi Health Directorate expressed concern over the high rate of teenage pregnancies, noting the health risks such as infections, rising HIV cases, and unsafe abortions leading to fatalities and infertility.
Stakeholders attribute this crisis to the lack of job opportunities and broken homes. A seamstress in Walewale, Madam Lydia Asibi, highlighted the financial struggles of apprentices, while Assemblyman Mohammed Saani Ahmed pointed to the severe poverty in the area. Thomas Imoro Issahaku, West Mamprusi Municipal Director for NCCE, blamed parental irresponsibility and economic hardship for forcing teenagers into risky situations. The NCCE plans to involve health officers to educate young girls on family planning and promote abstinence.