# Adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in Ghana

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/adolescent-pregnancy-and-child-marriage-in-ghana
> Updated: 2026-09-28T19:36:57.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 3.

Ghana is addressing high rates of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage through national and local interventions. Data from the Ghana Health Service indicated that between January and July 2026, 53,415 adolescent pregnancies were recorded at health facilities, including 1,501 cases involving girls aged 10 to 14. Regional disparities are notable, with the Savannah Region reporting 117.5 births per 1,000 adolescent girls.

In the Volta Region, specific districts are reporting rising trends. In the Adaklu district, cases rose from 109 in 2024 to 120 in 2025, with four cases involving girls aged 10 to 14. Advocates link these increases to poverty, parental neglect, and communication gaps; a 2021 baseline study in Adaklu showed that 87.5 per cent of surveyed teenagers had never discussed sexual issues with their fathers, and only 12.5 per cent had discussed them with their mothers.

Similarly, the South Tongu District recorded approximately 190 cases between January and June 2026, up from 166 during the same period in 2025. District Public Health Nurse Rachelle Elikem Zewu noted the district’s rate of 11.6 per cent has surpassed the national threshold of 11.5 per cent. Contributing factors in South Tongu include poverty, drug abuse, inadequate sexual education, and sexual and gender-based violence.

In response, the Ministry for Gender, Children and Social Protection is focusing on economic empowerment and reproductive health access. Local initiatives include the Norway-funded NORAD project by SOS Children’s Villages Ghana and intensive adolescent education drives launched by traditional authorities and health officials in South Tongu.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-28: South Tongu District reports rise in teenage pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy rates in Ghana's South Tongu District rose to 11.6% in the first half of 2026, surpassing the national threshold and prompting new adolescent education initiatives.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/south-tongu-district-reports-rise-in-teenage-pregnancy

### 2026-09-18: Adaklu teenage pregnancy cases rise to 120 in 2025

Teenage pregnancy cases in Ghana's Adaklu district rose to 120 in 2025. Advocates link the increase to poverty and poor parent-child communication regarding sexual health.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/adaklu-teenage-pregnancy-cases-rise-to-120-in-2025

### 2026-09-14: Ghana intensifies fight against child marriage and adolescent pregnancy

Ghana reports over 53,000 adolescent pregnancies in the first seven months of 2026 as the government intensifies efforts to end child marriage and improve maternal health outcomes.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ghana-intensifies-fight-against-child-marriage-and-adolescent-pregnancy

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Cite as: Adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in Ghana. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/adolescent-pregnancy-and-child-marriage-in-ghana