NCCE joins crusade against use of narcotic substance

Category: General Created on Wednesday, 22 August 2012 10:26 Published Date Written by GNA Hits: 233

Cape Coast, August 21, GNA - Mr Samuel Akuamoah, Director of Programmes of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), has appealed to the youth to abstain from the use of narcotic substance.
     He said that the NCCE was concern about the high rate of drug abuse among the youth in the country.

    Mr Akuamoah made the call at a three-day workshop, organised on the theme: “stay away from drugs,” in Cape Coast on Tuesday, to sanitise 10 participants on the use of narcotic drugs and their effects.

     He said the NCCE had sought the collaboration of the Narcotics Control Board with financial support from the Federal Office of Germany to organize workshops to train selected youth to serve as peer educators against drugs.
     Mr Akuamoah said topics to be discussed included “the overview of drug situation in Ghana”, “overview of legal regime on substance abuse and drug trafficking” and ” implication of the drug problem for the youth and the nation”.
     The rest were ” drug abuse and mental health (medical) perspectives”,” good citizenship and cultural values, problem solving techniques” and “approaches to behavioural changes”.
     Mr. Akuamoah said that the workshop was important because this year being an election year, some youth may engage in electoral violence after using drugs.
     He said the Commission would through other such workshops train 200 participants across the country, who would attend a leadership seminar to brainstorm and evolve a strategic plan to deal with the drug menace, particularly among the youth.
      Mrs. Charlotte Osei, chairperson of NCCE, said the NCCE organized the workshop to help the youth to take control of their future.
     She said drug abuse could affect the user and entire society.
     Mrs Osei Commended the Federal Office of Germany for supporting the fight against drug use in Ghana.
     Miss Mary Nartey, a participant and a student of Academy of Christ The King Senior High School in Cape Coast, said the event would help her deal effectively with drug users.
    Meanwhile, a photo exhibition of pictures of people who have died in their attempt to smuggle drugs in and out of Ghana, had been mounted as part of the workshop.