Adolescents and young people make up a quarter of Ghana’s population and represent a major source of potential for the country’s growth and transformation. Despite this, many face challenges that affect their health, education, and future opportunities, including early pregnancy, limited access to family planning, mental health issues, and high exposure to violence and HIV. In response, Ghana joined other countries in Western and Central Africa in committing to invest in the well-being of adolescents to ensure they are educated, healthy, and thriving.
To advance this commitment, Ghana held a two-day national meeting to disseminate the Western and Central Africa (WCA) Commitment for Educated, Healthy, and Thriving Adolescents and Young People, and to orient stakeholders on the updated Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!2.0) Guidance. Opening the meeting on behalf of the Minister of Health, Chief Director Mr. Desmond Boateng emphasized that the WCA Commitment places young people at the center of policy and service delivery, guiding efforts to improve service delivery, coordination, and responsiveness to youth needs.
Dr. Katherine Attoh of WHO Ghana highlighted the importance of the AA-HA!2.0 guidance, which integrates lessons learned over the past six years, including experiences during COVID-19, and reflects the voices of adolescents themselves. The meeting also examined progress and ongoing challenges in adolescent health. While school completion rates are improving and approaching gender parity, adolescent pregnancies remain significant, with 10% of all pregnancies occurring among adolescents, and 44% of unmarried young women experiencing unmet needs for family planning. Mental health concerns affect over a quarter of adolescents, while drug use, physical inactivity, violence, unintended injuries, and HIV/AIDS continue to pose major risks, with young people accounting for 31% of new HIV infections in 2024.
Youth engagement was highlighted as essential for effective solutions, with Mrs. Selina Dussey from the Ministry of Health stressing that young people must participate meaningfully in all stages of planning and implementation. A dynamic panel, including youth representatives and traditional and religious leaders, emphasized accountability, cultural considerations, and community-based approaches in addressing adolescent health.
The meeting also focused on practical applications of the AA-HA!2.0 guidance. Dr. Prerna Banati from WHO Headquarters explained that the tool helps countries identify priorities, strengthen stakeholder engagement, and support collaborative implementation. Participants explored evidence-based interventions, health-promoting schools, and approaches for conducting needs assessments and landscape analyses, with guidance from Dr. Geoffrey Bisoborwa, WHO Regional Advisor for Child and Adolescent Health.
Workgroup discussions allowed stakeholders to prioritize adolescent health needs and refine Ghana’s draft action plans developed at the regional Lomé meeting. A key outcome was the agreement to conduct regional-level dissemination and joint planning with WHO, UNESCO, UNFPA, and the Ministries of Health and Education to accelerate the implementation of Ghana’s national plan for adolescent health and education.
By advancing the WCA Commitment and adopting the AA-HA!2.0 guidance, Ghana has taken a decisive step toward ensuring that adolescents are not only healthy and educated but also empowered to thrive, laying the foundation for their well-being and long-term development.
