Teen Mothers Association Launched in Bolgatanga

Mr. Edward Ayagle, Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive has reiterated that the Government places the welfare of the youth high on its core policies to ensure a better life for them in future. He said the NDC Government was implementing many interventions for the youth towards employable and assured them of improved lives. . These include the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), Youth Enterprise Development Programme (YESDEP) and the Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP). Mr Ayagle said this in Bolgatanga at the launch of Dakella (Weep not) Youth Mothers Organization (DYMO), a Non-Governmental Organization that seek the development and welfare of teenage mothers in the Upper East Region. The organization�s aim is to provide a platform for its members to recover from the torment and psychological trauma they faced in their communities during times of pregnancy. It would also assist to restore their feelings of worthiness and provide them with opportunities to re-live their lives and dreams. Performing the launching ceremony, the MCE told the teen mothers to put the past behind them and work hard to redeem their image because most of their problems stemmed from ignorance and the lack of responsibility. He commended Ms Dorcas Akonga, Director of (DYMO) for her initiative to encourage such teen mothers to come out from the difficulties they faced, promising that, the Assembly�s doors were opened to assist the girls acquire employable skills. Ms Dorcas Akonga, expressed worry at the growing number of teen mothers in the Region who had dropped out of school and those who were on the streets because they were not gainfully employed could, therefore, not earn any income. She said DYMO would provide livelihood support and training to teen mothers so as to facilitate their economic and social empowerment and embark on campaigns against practices that were inimical to the lives of teen mothers in the area. With a membership of over 400 girls with ages ranging between 14 and 21, she said DYMO intended to support those members who left school because of their predicament to return to the classroom or to find employable skills. She called on benevolent organizations to go to the aid of the organization to fight teenage pregnancies and early marriages that brought many complications to the mothers, including HIV/AIDS, infant and maternal deaths and malnutrition among the children. Madam Cecelia Palmer Buckle, a Patron of DYMO, urged the mothers not to relent in their efforts to take good care of the children and prayed for the success of the organization.