Minister of Youth Empowerment and Development, George Opare Addo, has expressed grave concerns about the increasing drug abuse in Ghana, especially among the youth.
He has alleged that some respected individuals in society are involved in facilitating the distribution, making the situation even more alarming.
“I am hearing names on this drug menace, and they are very alarming. We need to be very frank with ourselves if we want to tackle this issue head-on,” he said.
Speaking in an interview with one of the media houses, Mr. Opare urged the security agencies to be more vigilant and proactive.
In a bid to address this growing problem, the Minister announced that the government would begin conducting lifestyle audits on certain individuals who may be linked to the drug trade.
“Drug trafficking is a big business, and we need to be aware of how deep this issue runs. The time to act is now,” he stated.
Mr. Opare, who is also the National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stated that everything affecting young people must be addressed.
Everywhere in the world, if regulations are loose, people will find ways to exploit them. We must let intelligence guide us as a country in combating this problem.”
The alarming rise in drug abuse, from marijuana to dangerous substances like tramadol, cough syrup mixtures, and “wonim red,” is a clear indication of a generation grappling with deep challenges.
The Minister stressed the urgent need for action to prevent the further spread of this crisis.
“We will soon launch an effective and massive campaign to combat drug abuse. We will educate the public, help those in need of rehabilitation, and provide alternative livelihoods. We won’t allow drugs to destroy our country,” Mr. Opare revealed.
He also pointed out that while drug abuse was once largely confined to slums, it is now spreading rapidly, even in universities.
“This is a very bad trend and it is affecting the future of our youth. Our campaign will cover all of this—schools, churches, and even traditional authorities will be involved.”
Mr. Opare urged corporate Ghana to support this initiative, stressing that the country needs to invest in positive, life-changing efforts.
“We are not safe, considering how rampant this issue has become. We intend to go everywhere to ensure drugs don’t destroy our future.”
The campaign will carry the message “Red means stop,” symbolizing the urgent need to put an end to the drug menace and protect the future of Ghana’s youth.
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