Tepa: The Ahafo Regional Command of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has expanded its anti-drug sensitisation efforts to encompass selected basic and senior high schools within Tepa, located in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region. This initiative is part of the ongoing activities for the 2026 World Drug Day.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Emmanuel Omari Abankwa, Assistant Narcotics Control Officer and Acting Ahafo Regional Commander of NACOC, emphasized the campaign's objective of enlightening students about the perils of substance abuse and its potential impact on their future. He urged students to abstain from drug use, cautioning that it could disrupt their education and diminish their future prospects.
In collaboration with the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Directorate of Education, the campaign, themed 'The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, and Innovative Responses,' engaged over 2,000 students and teachers from institutions including Tepa Roman Catholic Basic School, Wesley Methodist Basic School, Saviour Municipal Assembly Basic School, Tepa Anglican Basic School, and Tepa Senior High School. Participants received education on the dangers of substance abuse, current trends in illicit drug use, and innovative strategies for tackling the global drug issue.
During the forum, Mr. Abankwa encouraged students to adopt healthy lifestyles and abstain from substance abuse. He expressed concern over the rising global trend of drug misuse, particularly the increased use of synthetic drugs, attributing this trend partly to their low production costs. He noted the role of technology in marketing and distributing illicit drugs and urged students to remain disciplined, reject drug use, and report any drug-related activities to agencies like NACOC and the Police.
ANCO Patience Nyagah, head of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit of the Ahafo Regional Command, highlighted the societal benefits of adhering to the country's laws and advised students to resist peer pressure. Mr. Combert Nicholas, Public Relations Officer of the Ahafo Ano North Municipal Directorate of Education, expressed gratitude to NACOC for the initiative and advised students against drug-related activities. Reverend Evans Ofori, Head of the Guidance and Counselling Unit at Tepa Senior High School, warned that students involved in drug-related activities would face severe consequences.