Accra: Deputy Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Alexander Twum-Barimah, has called for mandatory drug testing for all job seekers in Ghana as part of efforts to reduce drug abuse among young people. Speaking on Adom FM, he emphasized that introducing compulsory drug tests before employment could serve as a strong preventive measure against the rising use of illicit drugs in the country.
According to Ghana Web, Twum-Barimah stated that both public and private institutions should be required to include drug testing as part of their recruitment process. He highlighted that enforcing such a policy through the Narcotics Control Commission would ensure nationwide compliance, effectively curbing the increase in drug usage among the youth.
Twum-Barimah further warned that failure to address the growing trend of drug abuse could have serious consequences for the country's youth population. He stressed that a national agreement on mandatory drug testing for job seekers would significantly reduce drug abuse in Ghana, potentially minimizing the threat if not completely eradicating it.
His comments come amidst rising concerns over drug abuse among young people, with substances like tramadol and cannabis being widely cited by authorities as major public health and security challenges.