Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) is set to implement a new Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) project aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and gender-based violence among students and surrounding communities in the Upper East Region.
The initiative, titled “Addressing Teenage Pregnancy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Gaps in BTU and Surrounding Communities,” will run from August 2025 to January 2026. The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and administered through the Youth Challenge International (YCI). The grant was received through the Partner Innovation Fund under the Human Rights thematic area.
According to the project lead, Prof. Daniel Azerikatoa Ayoung, the intervention responds to alarming statistics from the region, where 2,436 teenage pregnancies were recorded between January and May 2025. Reports from the Ghana Health Service further indicate that the Upper East Region has exceeded the national teenage pregnancy target, with the Sumbrungu sub-municipality recording particularly high rates.
The project will target Junior High Schools in Sumbrungu, BTU students, university staff, and community leaders. Planned activities include SRHR sensitization clinics in four JHSs, workshops for over 200 university students, training for peer counsellors and academic staff, and stakeholder engagement meetings with traditional and opinion leaders.
A key innovation of the project is the introduction of anonymous reporting mechanisms, including the installation of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) boxes, to encourage safe reporting of sexual harassment and gender-based violence without fear of stigma or retaliation.
“The goal is not only to raise awareness but to strengthen institutional accountability and empower young people—especially girls—to make informed decisions about their health, education, and future,” Prof. Ayoung explained.
The initiative also emphasizes male involvement, peer education, and community-embedded programming, aligning with national and international human rights frameworks that protect the rights of girls to education, health, and freedom from exploitation.
BTU officials say the project’s impact is expected to extend beyond the university and Sumbrungu community, reaching students’ families and communities across the northern regions.