He has alleged that some respected individuals in society are involved in facilitating the distribution, making the situation even more alarming.

“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.

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Opare urged the security agencies to be more vigilant and proactive.

In a bid to address this growing problem, the Minister announced that the government would begin conducting lifestyle audits on certain individuals who may be linked to 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 alarming rise in drug abuse, from marijuana to dangerous substances like tramadol, cough syrup mixtures, and “wonim red,” is a clear indication of a generation grappling with deep challenges.

The Minister stressed the urgent need for action to prevent the further spread of this crisis.

“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 urged corporate Ghana to support this initiative, stressing that the country needs to invest in positive, life-changing efforts.

“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.

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“I sold my father’s house and I was living in my house. Even at my house, I sold all my furniture and everything in my kitchen. I always found a way of making my wife understand until everything was sold.

One day I had to sit her down and tell her my story and why I sold everything. It was after that I got arrested,” he said in an interview with Crime Check TV.

Kwaku Gardiner said he’s now a changed man and after serving his tenure in prison, he will not go back to doing drugs.

He used the opportunity to apologize to his wife and two children for his waywardness and promised that things will get better when he is out of prison.

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The Nonagenarian was arrested in his house at Rafin Sanyi area of Suleja on Saturday, 21st August, 2021 with three kilograms of cannabis based on credible intelligence.

He was arrested with parcels of cannabis and some hidden in small gallons.

In his statement, he confessed he had been living on the illicit trade since he retired from the military in 1982. He also claimed he peddles drugs to feed his eight wives and 50 children.

Pa Joseph Owherhi was part of the suspects the police paraded, along with over 20 other drug dealers.

Also, four trans-border drug traffickers have been arrested in Adamawa state while attempting to cross the land border on motorcycle in Kolere village, Mubi North LGA to Cameroon in a different swoop.

They were nabbed on Sunday 22nd August with packs of Tramadol concealed inside noodles cartons.

Others were arrested in markets with different brand of consignment including cocaine, injections.

Some 17 were arrested in Lagos, one in Kogi State and the rest in Ondo State.

While commending the officers and men of Niger, Adamawa, Lagos, Ondo, Kogi and Oyo Commands of the Agency for their relentless efforts, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa charged them and their counterparts across the country not to rest on their oars in the ongoing offensive action against all drug cartels in Nigeria.

Suspect Edward Sena, according to the police, tampered with the drink of the driver which made him drowsy, paving way for him to steal his vehicle, two Samsung mobile phones and cash of GH¢300.00.

With the help of a car tracking device, suspect Sena was arrested from his hideout at Pokuase, near Amasaman.

Narrating the incident to DAILY GUIDE, the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer,  Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, said on Saturday, December 14, 2019, at about 11:00 pm, the victim, in a state of drowsiness, visited the  Cantonments Police Station Charge Office and reported that  someone hired his services from Nkrumah Circle to Airport but when they got to  Danquah Circle, the client invited him to have a drink with him while they waited for a flight to arrive at the airport.

The victim said while they were waiting at Purple Pub, his client served him a fruit juice.

He said after taking the drink, he lost consciousness but when he regained consciousness, the client had stolen his vehicle, together with his two Samsung phones and cash of GH¢300.

She revealed that since the vehicle had a tracking device, the police tracked the vehicle to Pokuase and with the assistance of the police information room and patrol teams, the vehicle was impounded and the suspect arrested.

DSP Tenge continued that Sena, at the time of his arrest, had changed the original registration number plate on the car and had fixed a fake one.

When his apartment was searched, she said, the police recovered one of the mobile phones of the victim in his possession.

The Accra Regional Police PRO said while in police custody, another victim came to the station to identify him as the same suspect who stole his car in a similarly fashion on May 10, 2019 at Nungua.

“We are calling on individuals who may have fallen victim to his nefarious activities to report at their respective police stations or the regional command for action,” she added.