By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, June 24, GNA – Naa Tsotsoo Dzata Hebulor I, Abe Se La Adonten Manye, has started a campaign against drug usage and abuse among the youth in La to help build a progressive society.
The campaign, dubbed “Say No to Drug Abuse” saw the Queen mother together with other traditional leaders, chief priests, women and men warriors, religious leaders, keep fit groups, parents, youth and the Police from La, Teshie and Nungua walked on the principal streets of La to sensitise the community.
The Abe Se La Adonten Manye, who is also the Founder of Royal Roar Foundation, said the campaign which was to help usher the youth onto the path of progress and prosperity, was in line with the Foundation’s goal of improving lives of underprivileged communities through education, health care and economic empowerment.
She said it was unacceptable to see young people perish and waste their lives when they had a bright future and could become the shining stars of their families and society.
Naa Tsotsoo Dzata Hebulor I said all that she and other community leaders had started was to wage an educative war against the drug abuse menace, adding that it was pathetic to see children in their teens taking tramadol, opium, and cannabis, amongst others.
“It seems our communities have lost touch when it comes to being each other’s keeper. Instead of uniting and proffering solutions to the numerous challenges we face, all we dwell on are our selfish interests, confusion and wrangling. Nobody thinks of nurturing a disciplined and focused youth to take over from us,” she said.
The Queen mother said the campaign “Say No to Drug Abuse” would not only be intensified in La but taken to Teshie and Nungua, calling on all and sundry to join and contribute their quota in ensuring that sanity prevailed and the youth were on the right path.
Nii Martey Dzata Obrempong I, Teshie Obediben Mantse and Acting Atofoatse of Teshie Gbugblan Division, said the indiscipline including drug abuse amongst the youth could partly be blamed on some traditional leaders and other key members of the society.
He said the very leaders who called for development, peace and progress would be the same elements who would ill-advise the young men and women or give them money to cause confusion and create altercations under the influence of drugs.
“We usually don’t say come for money to start a business or support your business, we don’t say let me pay your apprenticeship fee. We rather give them money for drugs to become hyperactive, so I say let’s discipline ourselves as elderly people, opinion and traditional leaders,” the Acting Atofoatse said.
DSP Samuel Awabil, La District Police Commander, who graced the campaign with his men, urged the public, particularly the youth, to refrain from drug abuse since it had become an existential threat.
“These days we have noticed that a lot of the youth are into drug abuse, especially the abuse of opium, popularly known as red. They are either taking it raw or mixing it with drinks and it is really destroying the youth. You guys need to change your attitudes and the police will not come chasing you,” he said.
GNA
Christian Akorlie