Talk2Me Foundation, a non-profit organisation committed to empowering girls and women to lead fulfilled and confident lives, has educated over 300 girls on sexual purity in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.
The initiative, dubbed “Purity Conference 2026,” was organised as a pre-Valentine’s Day event on the theme: “The Power of Sexual Purity in a Changing World; #changing times, unchanging values #the umbrella of purity.”
The programme focused on educating the girls on the importance of abstinence, self-discipline and the potential risks associated with early sexual activity, which organisers said could hinder their development and educational progress.
Madam Ampem Darkowaa Sarfo, Executive Director of Talk2Me Foundation, said the conference was necessary due to the rising cases of teenage pregnancies and abortions in the Municipality.
She disclosed that data from the area showed 550 cases of teenage pregnancy in 2024 and 724 cases in 2025, underscoring the urgent need to create safe spaces for young people to receive guidance and support.
“We are in changing times where premarital sex is often packaged as something attractive and trendy. If you are not engaged in it, you are seen as not active. We have also noticed that after Valentine’s Day there are many teenage pregnancy cases,” she said.
Madam Darkowaa Sarfo urged the children to uphold strong moral values and use sexual purity as a shield against sexual advances and peer pressure.
“Whether it is Valentine’s Day or post-Valentine’s Day, children need to remain sexually disciplined. It is a collective responsibility of parents, teachers, society and policy makers to guide them to make informed choices,” she added.
She also called on the Ghana Education Service to strengthen its Safe School Policy, which bans the use of canes and abusive language, to make schools more conducive for holistic learning and personal development.
The participants were drawn from the Kuntunse Cluster of Schools, Opah M/A Basic School 1, Kuntunse Church of Pentecost and surrounding communities. The children together with their parents participated in a panel discussion featuring a counsellor, pastor, nurse, sex therapist and psychologist.
Mr Josuah Kwame Yeboah, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the Institute of Sexuality, Marriage and Family Life Research and Training, said sexual purity went beyond abstinence from sexual intercourse to include avoiding other intimate sexual behaviours.
“Sexual purity is intentional. It is not something you pray away. You must make a conscious decision about the boundaries you set for yourself,” he said.
Madam Rukaya Mumuni, Principal Nursing Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Wage Foundation, highlighted the health risks associated with early sexual exposure, including sexually transmitted infections.
She noted that early sexual activity increased the risk of cervical cancer, especially in cases of persistent human papillomavirus infection.
Mrs Selasi Doku, a Counselling Psychologist, advised the children to exercise discipline despite the physical and emotional changes they experience during adolescence.
She emphasised the importance of waiting until they were mature enough to understand the emotional and psychological implications of sexual relationships.
The event ended with an interactive session during which the children asked questions and pledged to focus on their education. The girls were also presented with sanitary pads to support their menstrual hygiene.
GNA
