By Muyid Deen Suleman
Kumasi, Aug 28, GNA – Mr Ben Abdullah Alhassan, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Asokore Mampong, has called on Muslim leaders to actively participate in the campaign against drug-related activities within Muslim communities.
He emphasized that it was only through concerted efforts from Muslim leaders that the scourge of drug-related issues could be mitigated in their respective communities.
Mr Alhassan was speaking at an event commemorating Hausa Day at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi.
The programme was on the theme: “Zongo: Moving from Personalization to Viability, The Role of Government in Policy Implementation.”
According to Mr Alhassan, the gathering served not only as a celebration of the rich culture, history, and identity of the Hausa people, but also as a reflection on the invaluable contributions of Zongo communities to the social, economic, and political fabric of Ghana.
He said Zongo communities had long been bastions of resilience, commerce, education, and religious leadership, producing eminent scholars, entrepreneurs, artisans, and leaders, who continue to shape the nation’s destiny.
It was therefore, incumbent upon leadership to contribute wholeheartedly to the alleviation of the drug problem, he added.
The MCE explained that the solution lied in a collective response, robust parental guidance, community vigilance, governmental enforcement, and, most crucially, education and skills training to provide the youth with alternatives to destructive lifestyles.
He disclosed that the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly had collaborated with AAMUSTED and the MasterCard Foundation to launch a programme entitled “Women Empowerment Programme,” aimed at empowering youth and women through skill training in areas such as agriculture and food processing.
Mr Alhassan said in addition to the partnership with AAMUSTED, IT skills such as software development, data analysis, cyber security, digital marketing, and content creation would also be prioritized.
He asserted that it was through collective endeavours that could help transform challenges into opportunities through education, empowerment, and effective policies.
This was why the Assembly was committed to supporting initiatives that encouraged young people to pursue formal education, while equally valuing vocational and technical training, he added.
The MCE encouraged the Zongo youth to seize the opportunities presented through the government intervention programmes, such as the National Apprenticeship Programme, the one Million Coders Programme, currently in its pilot phase, the Adwumawura Programme, and other social initiatives to empower themselves.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah