The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has called for a tougher approach to tackling drug abuse in the country, warning that readily available substances are taking a serious toll on young people. The Bishops say the national response must go beyond the fight against cocaine and other high-profile narcotics to include drugs that are more easily obtained and widely used by young people. They expressed concern about the growing use of tramadol, marijuana, "Red" and other substances.
According to the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, the scale of abuse of readily accessible drugs requires urgent attention. He argued that authorities should strengthen laws and enforcement to restrict the importation and illegal sale of such substances and remove them from the shelves. Most Rev. Gyamfi stated that focusing on cocaine alone risked overlooking substances that were being consumed more extensively by young people.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference noted that substances like tramadol, marijuana, and "Red" are contributing to the destruction of the lives and prospects of many young people in communities across Ghana. They called for stronger measures to prevent the importation and distribution of these drugs, while urging authorities to intensify efforts to protect young people from substance abuse and address the wider social consequences of the drug menace.
Most Rev. Gyamfi told Citi FM that authorities should not concentrate only on drugs like cocaine, which is used but not as massively as marijuana, tramadol, "Red" and other similar drugs that are readily available on the shelves. He emphasized that young people can easily access these substances, which has serious consequences for their lives and future.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has previously expressed concern about the impact of drug abuse on the country's youth. In a related development, the Bishops welcomed the establishment of a task force to tackle the drug menace and acknowledged inter-agency efforts to address the issue. However, they stressed that more needs to be done to address the scale of the problem.
The issue of drug abuse in Ghana has been a long-standing concern, with various stakeholders calling for a comprehensive approach to address the problem. The Catholic Bishops' Conference has joined the call for urgent action, emphasizing that the future of the country's youth is at stake. The government has also taken steps to address the issue, including seizing large quantities of tramadol tablets and other narcotics.
The Catholic Bishops' demand for tougher action on tramadol, marijuana, and other drugs highlights the need for a collaborative approach to address the issue. Key stakeholders, including government agencies, civil society organizations, and community leaders, must work together to prevent the importation and distribution of these substances and protect young people from substance abuse.
Key points
- Catholic Bishops in Ghana demand tougher action on readily available drugs like tramadol and marijuana.
- The Bishops say the national response must go beyond the fight against cocaine to include widely used substances.
- Authorities are urged to strengthen laws and enforcement to restrict the importation and illegal sale of substances.
