Minister of Youth Empowerment and Development, George Opare Addo, has raised serious concerns about the rising cases of drug abuse in Ghana, particularly among young people.

He also claimed that some well-respected figures in society are secretly involved in distributing these substances, worsening the crisis.

“I am hearing names on this drug menace, and they are very alarming. We need to be very frank with ourselves if we want to tackle this issue head-on,” he said.

In an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Opare called on security agencies to be more alert and take stronger action.

To help tackle the problem, he revealed that the government plans to carry out lifestyle audits on individuals suspected of being involved in the drug trade.“Drug trafficking is a big business, and we need to be aware of how deep this issue runs. The time to act is now,” he stated.

Mr. Opare, who is also the National Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), stated that everything affecting young people must be addressed.

“Everywhere in the world, if regulations are loose, people will find ways to exploit them. We must let intelligence guide us as a country in combating this problem.”The growing abuse of drugs, including marijuana, tramadol, cough syrup mixtures, and "wonim red," shows that many young people are struggling with serious issues.

The Minister emphasized the need for immediate action to stop this problem from getting worse.

“We will soon launch an effective and massive campaign to combat drug abuse. We will educate the public, help those in need of rehabilitation, and provide alternative livelihoods. We won’t allow drugs to destroy our country,” Mr. Opare revealed.He also pointed out that while drug abuse was once largely confined to slums, it is now spreading rapidly, even in universities.

“This is a very bad trend and it is affecting the future of our youth. Our campaign will cover all of this—schools, churches, and even traditional authorities will be involved.”

Mr. Opare called on businesses in Ghana to back this initiative, emphasizing the need for the country to invest in programs that create positive and lasting change.

“We are not safe, considering how rampant this issue has become. We intend to go everywhere to ensure drugs don’t destroy our future.”The campaign will carry the message “Red means stop,” symbolizing the urgent need to put an end to the drug menace and protect the future of Ghana’s youth.