The Minister for the Interior and Member of Parliament for Asawase, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, has raised concern over the increasing rate of drug abuse among young people in Ghana, warning that the trend poses a serious threat to the country’s future.
Speaking during an engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders in Ho as part of a two-day working visit to the Volta Region, the Minister described the situation as alarming and called for a collective national response.
According to him, the growing use of illicit drugs among the youth has become a major challenge that requires the involvement of religious leaders, traditional authorities, opinion leaders, and community members.
“The level of drug usage by our youth is getting to an alarming proportion. As the Minister responsible for the Narcotics Control Commission, His Excellency the President and I are very much concerned about the situation,” he said.
Mr. Muntaka stressed that efforts to combat the menace should not focus solely on arresting users but must also target the sources of supply. He disclosed that security investigations have identified parts of the Volta Region as areas where the cultivation of narcotic substances, particularly marijuana, remains prevalent.
“You cannot simply arrest those using the drugs without looking at where the drugs are coming from. We have found that there is significant cultivation of these substances in some parts of the region,” he stated.
The Interior Minister urged pastors, imams, chiefs, and other influential figures to support the fight against drug abuse by educating their communities and discouraging the cultivation and use of illicit substances.
He rejected arguments that the cultivation and sale of narcotic substances can be justified as a means of livelihood.
“Some people argue that it is a source of income and survival. However, an armed robber can make the same argument, and so can a cocaine dealer. We cannot justify illegal activities simply because people depend on them for survival,” he emphasised.
Mr. Muntaka further warned that Ghana’s international reputation could be damaged if authorities fail to effectively address the cultivation and trafficking of illegal drugs. He noted that some neighbouring countries have already raised concerns about marijuana originating from Ghana.
He assured residents that government, through the Regional Security Council and relevant state institutions, would intensify efforts to curb the cultivation, distribution, and abuse of narcotic substances.
The Minister called for a united national response, stressing that protecting young people from drug abuse is essential to safeguarding Ghana’s development.
Also addressing the gathering, Volta Regional Minister James Gunu commended Mr. Muntaka for the visit and pledged the continued support of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) in promoting development and social cohesion.
He said the Council would continue collaborating with the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and other agencies to accelerate development in the region.
Mr. Gunu emphasized that peace and unity among political actors, religious leaders, and traditional authorities were essential for development, describing the Volta Region as the “Oxygen City of Ghana.”
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