The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region Hon Mahama Fuseini has raised concern over the insurgence of drug abuse in the Central Gonja District and the need for the youth to do away immediately with it.
Addressing the chiefs and people of the Mankpan traditional area during the 2025 edition of the annual Damba festival at Mpaha Junction, the DCE indicated that the development, describing it as despicable, adding that if the Central Gonja District is not careful, the drug menace would get out of hand and will eventually destroy the future of the area since the youth represents the future.
The target group, according to the worried DCE, is the youth who should be working to help develop the area and Ghana as whole, but they are engaged in drinking hard liquor, smoking marijuana, and using Tramadol (extra strong painkiller), which are referred to as tramol.
According to him, such vices do not have a good impact on the human body, rather they inhibit the brain and destroy the body.
He warned that the law will catch up with anyone found using illegal drugs, emphasizing that no one will be spared.
"I want to use this medium to caution those who are peddling drugs, and those who are aiding and abetting this vice, to put a stop to it before the law gets hold of them.”
He appealed to the chiefs and people of the area to help in preaching to the youth about the dangers involved in drug abuse.
The DCE highlighted the harmful effects of drug abuse, which can lead to the destruction of lives and hinder individuals from benefiting from government initiatives in the area.
The causes of drug misuse in Ghana include experimental use of substances in social situations, absence of consistent family support or a stable home life, genetic predisposition, exposure to ongoing environmental pressure, socioeconomic status, and mental health conditions.
