River Cess County – Superintendent Byron Zahnwea has linked the county’s alarming rise in teenage pregnancy to limited access to education and the absence of essential capacity-building services for young people.
In an exclusive interview with Verity News over the weekend, Superintendent Zahnwea emphasized that while many children in River Cess are eager to learn and improve their futures, structural challenges—such as poor road networks and a severe shortage of qualified teachers—continue to hinder their educational journey.
“Many of our children want to go to school, but the roads are impassable, the schools are far, and even when they get there, they often find no teacher in the classroom,” he said. “This is a major setback to our human development efforts.”
Zahnwea also pointed to illegal gold mining and the lack of access to early childhood education as major contributing factors. He explained that these conditions not only expose children to exploitation but also rob them of the foundation needed for lifelong learning.
“Illegal mining distracts the youth and pulls them into a lifestyle that undermines their education. We must act now to protect their future,” he added.
Despite the growing crisis, Superintendent Zahnwea affirmed that his administration remains committed to tackling the issue. He pledged to collaborate with development partners and civil society organizations to expand educational opportunities and deliver vocational and life-skills training for youth across the county.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Mandeh, the only officer assigned to the Women and Children Protection Section of the Liberia National Police in River Cess, cited the underreporting of sexual abuse as another key driver of teenage pregnancy in the area.
Mandeh reminded the public that under Liberian law, any girl under the age of 18 who becomes pregnant is legally considered a victim of statutory rape. However, most cases, he said, go unreported because families choose to handle them quietly rather than pursue justice.
“Silence is allowing predators to go unpunished,” Mandeh warned. “We need community leaders and families to work with law enforcement and take a stand against the abuse of our girls.”
The rising concern over teenage pregnancy in River Cess has sparked urgent calls for stronger policy enforcement, improved educational infrastructure, and enhanced health and legal services to safeguard the well-being and future of the county’s youth.
