The Centre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation (CEGRAD) has organised a training programme for students of the University Practice Senior High School (UPSHS) to enlighten them on adolescent health development and sexuality.

 The programme was aimed at educating the students to recognise the various factors in the foundational stages of adolescence which make young people vulnerable to undesired sexual behaviours.

Basic Concepts in Gender

The first presenter, Ms. Amanda Odoi  of CEGRAD explained that gender was a means through which differences between sexes were created. She advocated the need for the school’s management to introduce gender clubs to manage the interactions between female and male students. “Receive constant training to manage gender discrimination, sexual harassment and also alter deficiencies in gender perception,” she urged.

Gender, Sexuality and Violence

Speaking on “How to Manage Sexual Feelings and Violence”, the Coordinator for Advocacy and Outreach of CEGRAD, Dr. Georgina Yaa Oduro,  said that lack of sex education led to unhealthy sexual practices and therefore, urged the students to take the training programme serious in order to deal with issues that were likely to affect them in future. She advised them be cautious of decisions they make concerning issues of gender, sexuality and violence.

 Psychological Effects of Pornography, Occultism and Substance Abuse

Giving a presentation, the Head of Department of Psychological Medicine and Mental Health of the School of Medical Sciences, Dr. Michael Anim, indicated that pornography, occult practices and substance abuse highly affect the emotions, behaviours, actions and attitudes of an individual. He explained that viewing, reading or listening to erotic materials altered the brain and could lead to pornographic addiction. He counseled all students to visit the offices of their teachers and parents for help when the need arose.

Present at the programme were, the Director of CEGRAD, Dr. Mrs. Genevieve Adukpo, Coordinator for Research, (CEGRAD), Dr. Eunice Fay Amissah, Headmistress of University of Practice Senior High School, Mrs. Rosemary Dare and a representative of the UCC Ladies Club, Mrs. Vivian Vorwortor.