Accra: Mr. Gilbert Abeiku Santana Aggrey, a Deputy Chief Executive of the Ghana Tourism Authority, has raised concerns about the rising rate of drug consumption among senior high school (SHS) students in the country. He highlighted the dangers posed by students’ involvement in alcoholism, cigarette and shisha smoking, and drug abuse to the nation’s future.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Aggrey urged parents to make time to visit schools unannounced to monitor their children’s behavior. He emphasized that such visits would allow parents to identify and address any emerging bad behavior or attitudes before they escalate, noting that children often spend most of their time at school but may behave differently at home.
Mr. Aggrey shared this advice during an interview at the 2026 National Health Walk organized by the Mfantsiman Old Girls Association (MOGA) in Accra. He expressed concern over social vices affecting young people and stressed the importance of parents actively engaging with their children’s lives to prevent negative influences.
He advised parents, particularly those in high corporate positions, against neglecting their responsibilities by leaving their children’s care to house helps or extended family members. Mr. Aggrey also urged students and youth to avoid drugs and social vices, focusing instead on their studies and moral development to achieve their aspirations.
Mr. Aggrey encouraged the youth to embrace respect, humility, loyalty, sincerity, and hard work to reach their full potential. He pointed out the unique opportunities available to today’s youth, given their access to technology and global connectivity, and cautioned against choices that could jeopardize their futures.
He concluded by warning against the destructive potential of drugs, citing the example of a once-renowned keyboardist whose life was adversely affected by substance abuse.