Ghana recorded more than 500,000 teenage pregnancies between 2016 and 2020, according to data from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), highlighting a concerning trend in adolescent reproductive health.

Dr Erica Dickson, a clinical psychologist, disclosed this during a mental health forum organisied by the Mental Health Authority on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.

She described teenage motherhood as a growing concern rooted in psychological vulnerability, social neglect, and legislative inconsistencies. "In Ghana, it is estimated by the Ghana Health Service that 542,131 teenage pregnancies occurred between 2016 and 2020," she said. "Even though there seems to be a general decline in the numbers, in 2020 alone, over 100,000 young girls gave birth.

It is estimated that one to two in every ten adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 has had a live birth.