A Circuit Court Judge in Kumasi, Mrs. Lydia Osei Marfo, has cautioned Senior High School (SHS) girls against uncontrolled pre-marital sexual practices.
She reminded the girls to be wary of irresponsible men who might lure them with gifts with the intention of having sexual intercourse and impregnating them.
She gave the advice when she addressed form one students of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Girls SHS at an orientation ceremony at Kenyase in the Asutifi North District of Brong-Ahafo Region.
It was organised by the Past OLA Girls Association-Kenyase (POGA-K).
Mrs. Marfo who is a past student of the school emphasised that sexual intercourse was reserved for adults and advised the students to concentrate on their studies.
She warned the students that boy-girl friend relationship would only ruin their future hence the need to shun bad peers who could drive them to such relationships.
The Circuit Court Judge said the implementation of the free SHS programme had offered beneficiaries the opportunity to pursue high academic excellence irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.
Mrs. Phebe Abugri, the Secretary of POGA-K told the students that appetite for sex was one of the characteristics of adolescents and advised them to strive hard in order to control such desires.
She said it pays for a girl to preserve her virginity till the time of marriage and asked the fresh students to study hard to obtain a brighter future.
“Don’t rush into adulthood” Mrs. Abugri advised the girls and entreated them to respect school authorities and adhere to set rules and regulations as well.
She said the proper upbringing and development of girls remained a shared and collective responsibility, and that the Association would also play its part for the girls to meet their academic demands and needs.
Sister Antoinette Abiwu, the Headmistress of the school mentioned inadequate classrooms and desks as well as sanitary facilities as some of the immediate needs of the school.
She told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview that the school needed funds to complete a girls’ dormitory.
Those projects, she added were about 90 percent complete but stalled now due to the lack of funds.
She appealed to government and the District Assembly to assist the school by ensuring its completion.
Sister Abiwu thanked the Association which presented boxes of pens for the students for their continuous contribution towards the growth of the school and appealed to past students who were not members to join.
GNA