Participants at the 29th Denmark Seminar have called for stronger national action to address the rising incidences of illicit drug use amongst young people in the northern part of the country.
This was in a resolution reached at the end of the seminar, signed by Hajia Kate Sulemana, Chairperson of the 29th Denmark Seminar, and Dr Osman Al-Hassan, Chairman, Governing Board of Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), and made available to the Ghana News Agency.
The two-day seminar, held from November 12 to November 13, at the Dalun Simli Centre on the theme: “A Ghana Without Illicit Drugs: Our Youth; Our Future”, brought together traditional authorities, community leaders, development practitioners, educators, security agencies, civil society organisations and youth representatives.
It was organised by GDCA in partnership with Ghana Venskab, a Danish organisation.
The resolution said participants discussed the effects of illicit drug use on Ghanaian youth, the role of drug manufacturers and distributors and the responsibilities of traditional leaders in preventing substance abuse.
It reported a growing trend of drug use among children, especially in junior and senior high schools with cases involving youth as young as 10 years.
The resolution noted increasing abuse of tramadol, especially amongst commercial tricycle riders alongside the normalization of marijuana use through peer influence.
Rising incidents of drug-induced psychosis, mental illness, crime, school dropouts, insecurity and pressure on health facilities were cited as evidence of a deepening public health challenge.
It said participants further observed that organized criminal networks were driving the illicit drug trade across parts of northern Ghana contributing to what they described as a national security threat.
It said insights from the Danish experience highlighted the global nature of drug abuse and emphasized prevention through early childhood education, social support, awareness creation and coordinated community engagement.
At the end of the seminar, the participants adopted the resolution committing stakeholders to intensified collaboration and community-led strategies to combat substance abuse.
The resolution called for effective enforcement of government policies and the Narcotics Control Commission Act.
It further called for strengthened cooperation amongst law enforcement agencies, traditional leaders, communities and schools in public education campaigns.
It called on local government authorities to improve data collection on drug abuse and increase engagement with security agencies.
The resolution also called on government to provide rehabilitation centres for victims of drug addiction.
The participants called for adequate resourcing of the Pharmacy Council to enhance monitoring of drug supply chains as well as need to include anti-drug lessons in the basic school curriculum.
They called on drug manufacturers to adhere to good manufacturing practices and support public education as part of corporate social responsibility.
The resolution urged drug distributors to report irregular purchase patterns to the Pharmacy Council, Food and Drugs Authority or NACOC.
It urged parents and teachers to strengthen guidance and life skills education for children as well as urged the media to avoid glamourizing drugs and focus on awareness creation.
It said the participants encouraged the youth to resist negative peer pressure and demonstrate leadership by making positive life choices.
It said the participants reaffirmed their commitment to working with traditional authorities, community leaders and relevant state institutions to protect young people from the dangers of illicit drugs and to promote safer, healthier communities.
Source: GNA
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