Reverend Timothy Bentum, a former actor and founder of Grace Avenue Ministry, has publicly disclosed that he smoked marijuana for about five years, starting from his school days. In an interview with George Quaye on Joy Prime on 23 September 2026, Bentum shared his experience, hoping it could help others. He attended five different schools before completing his A-Level examinations. His introduction to marijuana occurred while he was president of the drama and debate club in one of those schools.
Bentum's first encounter with marijuana was when a student from another school introduced him and his colleagues to the drug shortly before they were due to stage a play. The play itself was about drug abuse, but the visiting student insisted they could not go on stage without first trying the substance. Bentum described himself as adventurous and seeking validation from his peers. He said he enjoyed the experience, which led to regular recreational use.
Bentum's use of marijuana escalated further after he moved between neighborhoods in Accra, where new acquaintances introduced him to a stronger substance with a more intense but shorter-lived effect. He explained that the pull of the stronger drug lay in how quickly its high faded, unlike marijuana, which left users feeling elevated for longer stretches. This fast comedown created a craving to use again almost immediately, a cycle he linked to people losing everything.
Bentum's account adds to a wider public conversation in Ghana about celebrity substance use and personal transformation. Public figures are increasingly speaking openly about past struggles with drugs. For ordinary Ghanaians, his story offers a rare first-hand illustration of how casual experimentation among young people can progress toward dependency on more harmful substances.
The interview does not detail how or when Bentum eventually left drug use behind, nor does it specify the identity of the stronger substance he described. The report also does not indicate whether Bentum or Joy Prime have announced any follow-up programming, such as a fuller documentary or ministry-led outreach.
Bentum's disclosure provides a unique perspective on the issue of substance use in Ghana. His story highlights the potential risks of casual experimentation with drugs, particularly among young people. The Ghanaian public may be watching to see if Bentum will expand on his story in future interviews or through his ministry platform.
No further public appearances, interviews, or ministry initiatives tied to this disclosure have been announced. It remains unclear whether Bentum intends to build on his story in the future. The interview was reported by ghanaweb news, which first broke the story.
Key points
- Reverend Timothy Bentum used marijuana for five years, starting in his school days.
- Bentum's use of marijuana led to experimentation with stronger substances.
- Bentum's story adds to a wider conversation in Ghana about celebrity substance use and personal transformation.
