Civic organisations and traditional leaders in the Krobo area have expressed concern over rising drug abuse among Senior High School (SHS) students, cautioning that the trend could jeopardise the future of the youth if left unchecked.
The campaign, initiated under the leadership of the Konor of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, is being led by the Tema Community 25 Lions Club in collaboration with the Accra Golden Lions Club and Rotary Club of Akosombo-Dam City.
Other partners are Rotary Club of Tema-Community 25, the Rotaract Club of UESD-Somanya, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), and the Ngmayem Festival Planning Committee.
Dubbed “Say No to Drugs,” the initiative has rolled out awareness programmes in schools across the Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, including Asesewa SHS, Akro Secondary Technical, Krobo Girls, Manya Krobo SHS, and Akuse Methodist SHS.
Dr Ralph Tettey Amlalo, the President of the Tema Community 25 Lions Club, described the situation as deeply troubling, stating that interactions with students revealed disturbing patterns.
He said students were reportedly hiding substances in everyday items such as beverages, tea, toffees, and the popular hibiscus drink, ‘Sobolo,’ adding that some schools had reported cases of students trading drugs among themselves, prompting teachers to conduct gate checks.
In other instances, students were said to be misusing stimulants and caffeine-based products to stay awake for extended study sessions, while others were reportedly using unprescribed painkillers to ease their menstrual pains, often based on peer advice or misleading social media content.
The substances being abused were said to include codeine mixtures, marijuana, heroin, and locally concocted drugs such as “Red” and “Blue Blue.”
Dr Amlalo noted that while such issues were previously associated with urban areas like Accra and Tema, they had now spread to smaller towns and rural communities, pointing out that the social consequences of drug abuse could be linked to risky sexual behaviours and teenage pregnancies.
He explained that students under such influence often lost control, leading to reckless advances or impaired judgment, which contributed to rising cases of teenage pregnancies.
Mr Nehemiah Attigah, the President of the Accra Golden Lions Club, attributed the problem largely to ignorance and peer pressure.
He said most students were unaware of the substances they consumed, believing they would enhance their strength or academic performance and stressed the importance of continuous education, to empower students to make informed choices and decisions.
Mr. John Atteh Matey, the Municipal Chief Executive of Lower Manya Krobo, likened the situation to a medical condition requiring urgent intervention, saying SHSs had become hotspots for drug abuse because of peer influence during adolescence.
He pledged the Assembly’s support and proposed the formation of anti-drug clubs in schools to sustain awareness efforts.
The Ngmayem Festival Planning Committee also linked the campaign to its upcoming annual celebrations.
Mr. Tawiah Kofi-Opata, a member of the Committee revealed that drug abuse, smoking, and alcoholism typically surged during the festival seasons, and called for early sensitisation to help curb such behaviours and preserve the festival’s cultural significance.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), a campaign partner, expressed its commitment towards providing technical support and monitoring.
Officials from the FDA said national efforts to combat substance abuse were gaining urgency as more youth were exposed to harmful drugs through peer networks, unregulated sales, and online misinformation.
The campaign organisers emphasised that the initiative aimed not only to address the current crisis but also to protect Ghana’s future.
Stakeholders warned that failure to act could result in a generation trapped in addiction, but expressed the hope that collective action by teachers, parents, leaders, and civic groups could reverse the trend.