Ronald Impraim, a facilitator at the Opportunity Industrialization Technical Institute (OITI), has called for a deliberate government effort to educate the public on the harmful effects of drug abuse, noting that many Ghanaian youth view shisha as a harmless trend rather than a substance more dangerous than cigarettes.

Speaking during a drug abuse sensitization program organized for students by Chosen Rehab Center, Mr. Impraim said the abolition of corporal punishment in schools has become a major contributing factor to rising drug use in some institutions across the country.

He urged the government to take drug abuse education in second-cycle institutions more seriously, stating that a significant number of senior high school students fall victim to drug abuse due to peer pressure.

According to him, the initiative by Chosen Rehab Center will make a meaningful impact, especially since government efforts to combat drug abuse among the youth are yet to yield results.

Some survivors of drug addiction shared their past experiences and the negative consequences they faced, including imprisonment.

They cautioned students against trying drugs, describing them as dangerous. Several survivors said they were introduced to drugs by schoolmates, including so-called “school fathers” and roommates, which derailed their lives.

Students of OITI who spoke to the news team emphasized the importance of the program, organized in partnership with the Ghana Education Service.

They noted that the program’s impact will help shape their future, adding that no amount of peer pressure would make them lose focus.