The Chief Executive Officer of the Willingway Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre, Madam Lydia Abena Manu Adofo, has cautioned that the continued neglect of young people living in ghettos poses a serious threat that the nation must address collectively.

According to her, the time has come for Ghanaian authorities to take decisive action against the growing problem of drug abuse and addiction among the youth. She warned that failure to intervene could have devastating consequences for society.

Speaking to Oyerepa FM’s Okogyeabour Ocran during a visit to Krofrom Columbia, a well-known ghetto in the Manhyia South Municipality, as well as other ghettos in Amakom within the Subin Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Madam Adofo appealed to national leaders to intensify efforts to tackle rising cases of substance abuse and addiction among young people.

The outreach programme aimed to educate the youth on the dangers associated with drug use, abuse, and addiction.

As part of the exercise, the Willingway Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre provided cooked rice and assorted drinks to residents and individuals battling substance abuse.

The event attracted the participation of several stakeholders and advocates, including representatives from the Ghana Health Service, the Mental Health Authority, and Evangelist Suro Nyame.

Other organisations, including the Modesta Impact Initiative, Gunshot, and members of the media, also joined the outreach programme.

Madam Adofo described the growing drug abuse crisis as a potential national security threat that requires urgent attention from policymakers and society at large.

She attributed the increasing rate of drug abuse and addiction partly to the stigma faced by affected individuals within their communities.

She stressed the importance of ending discrimination against young people struggling with addiction and called on families to support their reintegration into society.

Madam Adofo further encouraged families and authorities to seek professional rehabilitation services as an effective way of addressing the problem.

As the world prepares to mark the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, she urged global leaders to view the occasion not merely as a symbolic event but as a call to action in the fight against drug abuse and addiction.

Also speaking to the media, Dr. Modesta Abbem, President of the Modesta Impact Initiative, expressed concern about what she described as the neglect of young people trapped in substance abuse.

She appealed to Ghanaian leaders, particularly the government, to intervene urgently, warning that the country’s future is at risk as increasing numbers of young people become involved in drug abuse and adopt ghetto lifestyles.

According to her, comprehensive interventions, including education, rehabilitation, and social support programmes, are needed to address the growing challenge and safeguard the future of the nation’s youth.

Story by: Okogyeabour Ocran, Oyerepa Newsroom