By Albert Allotey
Accra, July 4, GNA – Mr Gilbert Abeiku Santana Aggrey, a Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority has expressed worry over the increasing rate of drug consumption among students in the senior high schools (SHS) in the country.
He said the rate at which students in SHS were involved in alcoholism, smoking of cigarettes and shisha, and drug abuse posed a danger to the country’s future.
He has therefore appealed to parents that regardless of their work schedules they should find time to pay unannounced visits to the schools to check on their children if they are developing any bad behaviour or attitude.
“Please go to the schools and ask students, teachers, school authorities if your boy or girl is developing any bad behaviour or attitude,” he stated.
He said this would help the parents to take quick action before the situation got out of hand stressing that the children spent most of the time in school, but when they return home, they are different.
Mr Aggrey gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency during the 2026 National Health Walk organised by the Mfantsiman Old Girls Association (MOGA) in Accra.
He said at this age and time a lot of social vices were going on and that before parents could realise their children had been badly influenced, so it was important they take earlier steps by finding time to visit their wards in the schools to know how they are faring.
“Parents, especially those in high corporate positions should desist from abandoning their responsibilities to their house helps, nephews, nieces, younger siblings, to take care of their children,” he admonished.
Mr Aggrey advised the students and the youth to avoid destroying their destiny with drugs, social vices, and bad influences, and rather they should focus on their studies in school and develop high good morals and character because through that they could achieve their aspirations.
He said for the youth to reach their altitude in life they should show respect, humility, loyalty, sincerity, and be hard working while looking up to those in good positions today, stressing that, “If they would have engaged in drugs, they would not have been in such positions.”
He said the youth of today stood to benefit from great future because they are the generation that have been exposed to technology, global civilization, how the world is evolving, and they should see themselves into that future.
“Growing up as young boys and girls we did not have access to internet to know what is happening – we were writing letters – if you need something in school, you must write a letter and wait for a month or two before you get a response of your mail.
“But today, just by a click of your device or garget you can connect to the rest of the world, and you can see how young people are making it in the developed countries
“So, please you don’t have to engage in drugs and social vices that will cut your future or destiny short,” he advised, adding, “We have one time had the greatest keyboardist in the world, but his end was not pleasant because of drugs.”
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade