By Regina Atule, GNA
Damongo (S/R), March 07, GNA – The Damongo Youth Hub in collaboration with the Empowerment for Life (E4L) Programme has engaged stakeholders in the West Gonja Municipality to strengthen efforts in curbing sale and use of illicit drugs in the area especially in the Damongo township.
The event, held at Damongo in the Savannah Region, was also to foster collaboration and collective action to address the impact of drug misuse and abuse, especially amongst the youth.
Participants included officials from the security agency officials, religious leaders, traditional authorities, parents, educationists, health workers, representatives from the Narcotics Control Commission, the youth and the media.
Mr Abdulai Kudus, a Member of the Damongo Youth Hub, speaking during the event, said use of illicit drugs had become a growing concern in the municipality, hence the efforts.
He highlighted the impact of drug abuse, saying: “The increasing availability and misuse of substances amongst young people threaten their health, education, future and the peace of our community. If we do not act together, we risk losing a generation to addiction, crime and hopelessness.”
He urged participants to strengthen education and awareness, promote moral and family values, support rehabilitation efforts, and create opportunities that would engage the youth positively.
Mr Abdulai Salam, Savannah Regional Coordinator, E4L Programme said a roadmap on possible ways of curbing the menace of illicit drug use in the municipality had been drawn by the Damongo Youth Hub.
Mr Salam was optimistic that the engagement would produce practical recommendations, sustainable solutions and strong partnership that would help curb the misuse and abuse of drugs and restore hope in residents of the area.
The E4L Programme seeks to ensure that civil society organizations in northern Ghana contribute to improved resilience, equity and more accountable governance in the country.
It is being implemented in the Northern, North East and Savannah Regions by four local partners; Ghana Developing Communities Association, School for Life, YEFL-Ghana, and Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships with funding support from Civil Society in Development, a Danish organization, through Ghana Venskab.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh/Benjamin Mensah