President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the growing menace of substance abuse among the youth, and entreated chiefs to support the government to fight against the practice.
He said dealing with such challenges was not only the duty of the government, but a collective responsibility.
As part of the solution, the President called for the setting up of local taskforces in the various traditional areas in the country to help deal with the challenge, which was causing more harm to the youth who are the future leaders.
President Mahama expressed the concern at a townhall meeting in Koforidua in the Eastern Region as part of his accounting to the people tour of the region last Saturday.
He was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, and the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Ahmed Ibrahim.
The rest included the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza; the Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Ampem Nyarko; the Minister in-charge of Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, and the Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey.
Rationale
The President’s comments was in response to concerns raised by the Mamfehene, Osabarima Ansah Sasraku III, who is also the Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area.
The chief was highlighting the dangers of substance abuse among the youth and its impact on social stability.
Mr Mahama said that although security agencies had stepped up efforts in tackling the substance abuse menace, there was the need to deepen collaboration with traditional rulers to stem the tide.
The President said recent operations by a special task force deployed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, to some parts of the country had resulted in many arrests.
“Most of the time, those we arrest are the peddlers and not the barons who smuggle such harmful drugs into the system,” he said, adding that authorities had intensified surveillance at the ports and intercepted significant quantities of narcotics.
President Mahama, however, gave assurance that ongoing enforcement efforts would be strengthened to disrupt the supply chain.
Logistical support
The President further announced plans by the government to procure 40 additional armoured vehicles for the Ghana Police Service as part of measures to strengthen the service’s operational capacity in tackling crime nationwide.
He said the new fleet would complement the existing fleet acquired last year, which he said had significantly improved police response to armed robbery and other emerging security threats across the country.
President Mahama said such investments formed part of the government’s broader agenda to modernise the country’s security architecture through sustained logistical support and infrastructure development.
He said the government remained committed and focused in building a professional, modern and people-centred police service capable of preventing crime through intelligence-led operations, innovation and stronger collaboration with communities, especially traditional rulers.
Energy sector
On energy, President Mahama announced that the government would this year cut the sod for commencement of work on the construction of a 1,200-megawatt electricity generation plant as part of efforts to expand the nation’s power generation capacity to meet growing demands.
“The consumption of electricity is growing. When we came to power, the consumption was 3,500 megawatts, but currently, consumption at peak is 4,300 megawatts,” he said.
The President further explained that the Ministries of Energy and Finance had already developed a roadmap for the project, adding that beyond meeting domestic demand, excess power generated could be exported to neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso, Togo and La Cote Divoire to earn foreign exchange.
“By God’s grace, this year, we will cut sod for its commencement,” he said.
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