NYA Transforms Okada Riders Into Community Health Champions

By Frank Kwame Abbor

On June 3, GNA - The National Youth Authority (NYA) conducted a sensitization workshop for commercial motorcyclists (known locally as Okada riders). These participants were trained to become advocates aimed at reducing the high incidence of teen pregnancy and STI transmission within portions of the Volta Region.

The program, centered around the theme "Okada Ride: Safeguarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights for Young People," seeks to turn these young men from being seen as offenders into agents of positive transformation within their communities.

This initiative forms a key component of an overarching plan aimed at engaging young people in advocating for sexual and reproductive health rights within their local areas.

Acknowledging the significant part played by Okada riders within the community structure of these regions, the NYA aimed to equip them with information and advocacy capabilities regarding topics like preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reducing teenage pregnancies, and making informed decisions about reproduction.

The initial training session successfully gathered the first 50 Okada riders selected from three districts: Adaklu, Akatsi North, and Central Tongu.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr. Yao Semorde, the Volta Regional Director of the NYA, highlighted the significance of this initiative, noting that Okada drivers frequently face accusations regarding their role in increasing teenage pregnancies within the area.

"These lads constantly pursue young girls in the community with enticing presents, only to leave them pregnant," he claimed.

To tackle this issue, the NYA worked alongside the Municipal Health Directorates and received support from the UNFPA to educate the participants about sexual health risks and preventive actions.

The training sessions centered around safe sex practices, preventing sexually transmitted infections, various methods of family planning, and the wider significance of honoring and safeguarding the sexual and reproductive rights of youth, particularly adolescent females.

The NYA has been diligently engaged in youth development projects within the area, advocating for youth empowerment, cultivating leadership abilities, and implementing programs focused on social responsibility.

Several attendees showed gratitude for the program, highlighting that it not only shed light on topics they had previously ignored but also prepared them to act as changemakers in their own neighborhoods.

"This has made us realize things we previously overlooked. Now that we have more knowledge, we can also guide our friends," stated one of the Okada riders, speaking on behalf of the group.

GNA

Edited by Maxwell Awumah and Lydia Kukua Asamoah

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