The Bono Region witnessed a historic milestone as Global Media Foundation (GLOMEF), together with its dedicated partners, successfully hosted the maiden Adolescent Conference on Well-being and Ending Child Labour at the Sunyani Technical University Auditorium.
Thanks to the unwavering support of Unifor, STAR-Ghana Foundation, West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and ActionAid Ghana, implementing partners – Citizens Watch Ghana and Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (IWEN) as well as local stakeholders, this flagship gathering brought together a large number of enthusiastic adolescents, teachers, parents, community leaders, and duty bearers for an inspiring day of learning, empowerment, and collective problem-solving.
The conference demonstrated how strategic partnerships can spark meaningful change. Adolescents openly discussed their lived realities - teenage pregnancy, mental health struggles, child labour pressures, gaps in reproductive health services, and barriers to quality education.
Through storytelling, breakout sessions, group reflections, and panel interactions, the adolescents boldly shared ideas that will shape future interventions.
For many of the participants, mainly drawn from schools and operational communities, this was their first opportunity to speak directly to leaders or duty bearers about issues that affect their lives daily. The impact was immediate and visible: strengthened confidence, enhanced awareness, and renewed hope. Stakeholders left with a deeper commitment to building safer and more supportive environments for adolescents.
This achievement is not just an event - it is a movement made possible by the trust and investment of key partners who believe in the power of young people. GLOMEF acknowledges the invaluable contributions of every donor, NGO collaborator, institutional partner, community volunteers, and government agency whose support continues to transform the landscape of adolescent development in the Bono Region.
Joining the event, the Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani, Vincent Antwi Agyei, praised GLOMEF and its partners for championing adolescent empowerment at a time when youth vulnerability continues to rise. In his personal remarks, he commended the Chief Executive Officer, Ralphael Godlove Ahenu and the GLOMEF team for consistently mobilizing resources and uniting organizations toward a common mission of empowering young people, women and vulnerable groups.
He urged adolescents to stay focused on their education, avoid negative peer influence, and make responsible choices that align with their dreams. Sharing personal experiences from his own childhood in Sunyani, the MCE cautioned that many talented youth derail their future through bad company and poor decisions.
Delivering the official speech for the Bono Regional Minister, Lawyer Joseph Addae Akwaboa, the MCE reiterated the government’s commitment to adolescent welfare. He highlighted ongoing initiatives, including increased allocation for the Free Sanitary Pad Programme, improvements in textbook supply, new school blocks, health facilities, and community water systems about to commence across the municipality.
He emphasized the need for families, institutions, and communities to work collectively to protect children from exploitation, ensure access to education, and promote mental and physical well-being.
Declaring the maiden conference officially opened, he reinforced a powerful message:
“When we invest in the well-being of adolescents, we secure the future of our region and our nation.”
This Writer is an Adolescent Transformative Journalist in Sunyani under the RCA Project by GLOMEF in Sunyani.
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