Accra: Mr Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, Deputy Minister for the Interior, highlighted the emergence of dangerous drug combinations, such as 'Red,' a lethal mix of tapentadol and carisoprodol, as a significant threat to Ghana's youth. He revealed that 62.3 percent of adolescents in nine Senior High Schools in the Northern Region had used illicit substances at least once in their lifetime.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Terlabi made this statement while joining the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, Mr George Opare-Addo, to launch the National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign, dubbed 'Ghana Against Drugs (GAD) - Red Means Stop.' The campaign, organized by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, aims to tackle the alarming rates of drug abuse among Ghanaian youth.
Mr Terlabi urged the youth to reject drugs, warning that addiction could ruin their future. He called for collective action, encouraging the media, parents, teachers, community leaders, and young people to champion the cause. The Deputy Minister commended Mr Opare-Addo for the initiative and assured support from the Ministry of the Interior.
Mr Opare-Addo emphasized the necessity of a multi-faceted approach to address the growing substance abuse crisis among Ghana's youth. He stressed that the campaign's theme, 'Red Means Stop,' serves as a call to action for every Ghanaian to stand against drug abuse.
The event convened stakeholders from various sectors, including government ministries, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, and civil society organizations. The campaign seeks to raise awareness, drive policy discussions, and take decisive actions against opioid abuse.