By Frances Dorothy Ward
Kumasi, Sept. 29, GNA – Right Reverend Oscar Christian Amoah, Anglican Bishop of Kumasi, has stressed the need for the youth to be guided to know the dangers and negative impact of drug abuse and trafficking.
He said it was important to encourage the youth to be studying, acquiring skills and working hard to sustain their future instead of engaging in drugs and other social vices, which could ruin their future.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview in Kumasi, Right Rev. Amoah, pointed out that, substance use among young people and the potential consequences on their education, health, employment prospects and contribution to national development, should not be taken for granted.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the effect of drug use as one of the adolescent health issues requiring attention in Ghana, with the Organisation noting that, young people faced a range of health and social challenges that could affect their education and future opportunities.
Additionally, WHO has also supported Ghana’s efforts to strengthen school-based health interventions, including the collection of data on alcohol and drug use among school-going adolescents to guide evidence-based policies and programmes.
He said the organization’s Global School-based Student Health Survey includes drug use, alcohol use, mental health, physical activity and other behavioural factors were among areas requiring attention among adolescents.
Right Rev. Amoah, stressed the importance of prevention and early intervention, since habits and behaviours formed during adolescence could influence health and wellbeing later in life.
He noted that the issue had also attracted the attention of education and security authorities, who have called for stronger collaboration between schools, families and communities to protect young people from substance abuse and criminal activities.
The youth constitute an important part of Ghana’s human capital therefore their education and skills development were essential to the country’s future economic and social development.
Bishop Amoah said, young people must not be attracted by the promise of quick money from illegal activities and advised parents and guardians to encourage them to understand that education, vocational training, entrepreneurship and legitimate employment could provide sustainable opportunities, adding that, the church was doing its best to put the youth on the right track.
The Anglican Bishop said drug trafficking, unlike legitimate business, involved activities prohibited by law and could expose those involved to arrest, prosecution and imprisonment.
He also called on security agencies to step -up efforts to reduce this menace and save future generations.
The Bishop further said the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has also described transnational organised crime and drug trafficking as significant challenges for West Africa, noting that, illicit drug markets could intersect with wider criminal networks and undermine development and the rule of law.
It was therefore, important for young people to understand that becoming involved in the transportation, sale, distribution or concealment of illicit drugs was not simply a way of making money but could place them within criminal networks.
He said young people may be particularly vulnerable when they were unemployed, out of school or searching for quick financial opportunities.
However, they must not see illicit drug trafficking as an option, since would jeopardize their future.
He urged stakeholders to help address the underlying circumstances that could make young people vulnerable to recruitment into illicit activities.
“Education remains one of the important tools for providing young people with knowledge, skills and opportunities to make informed decisions about their future”, he stressed.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Kenneth Odeng Adade