The Consultative Committee to Combat Drug Menace in Schools set up in September 2019 has submitted its report to His Excellency, the President’s Representative at the Ministry of the Interior.
Presenting the 21-page document, Mr. Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child Rights International and Chairperson for the Committee, expressed appreciation to His Excellency, The President’s Representative at the Ministry of the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery for the invaluable assistance to the Committee.
He also expressed profound appreciation to the Chief of Staff for her keen interest and financial support to the work of the Committee.
Mr. Appiah was upbeat about the report and noted that the findings and proposals would trigger a national discourse by stakeholders, including religious bodies, education facilities, managers and civil society organisations, on the ways to combat the drug menace in schools across the country.
In his remarks after receiving the report, Mr. Ambrose Dery, His Excellency, the President’s Representative at the Ministry of the Interior, on behalf of the President, thanked the Consultative Committee for its dedication and commitment to making this report a reality.
He commended the members of the committee on the enthusiasm with which they worked.
The President’s Representative at the Ministry of the Interior reiterated that, drug menace had become one of the serious social problems in many developing countries including Ghana and accounted for the abnormal behaviours of the youth including poor academic performance, increase absenteeism in schools, increased hostility towards other people, self-exclusion, physical deterioration, memory losses, short attention span and difficulty in concentration and that it was imperative that a holistic approach to fighting the canker was presented.
He assured the report would be studied carefully and actions taken accordingly.
Mr. Dery acknowledged the support of the Chief of Staff to the Committee and indicated, it was an attestation of H.E. the President and for that matter, Government’s commitment to curtailing drug abuse in schools thus leading to the socio-economic development of the country.
He noted that, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo – Addo’s commitment to the rapid development of Ghana, a Ghana beyond aid requires quality manpower; well educated and sound youth thus the implementation of the Free SHS and other flagship programmes.
H.E. the President’s Representative at the Ministry of the Interior appealed to the citizenry to adhere to the COVID-19 safety protocols.
BACK GROUND
At the directive of H.E. the President of the Republic of Ghana¸ Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo – Addo, a Consultative Committee was set up in line with His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo – Addo’s objective to halt the intake and abuse of illicit drugs by the youth, particularly those in the Senior High Schools
Consequently, on Tuesday, 24th September, 2019, the Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery inaugurated the Consultative Committee to first and foremost identify the sources and causes of the increase in the use of drugs in schools across the country; and recommend to the President, proposals to be discussed with stakeholders, including religious bodies, education facilities, managers and civil society organisations, on the ways to combat the drug menace in schools across the country.
The members of the Committee are Mr. Bright Appiah, Executive Director of Child Rights International and Chairperson for the Committee, Mr. Kwesi Assan-Brew, Ministry of the Interior, Mr. Decardi Nelson, Ministry of National Security, and Ms. Florence Ayisi-Quartey, Ministry of gender, Children and Social Protection.
The rest are Rev. Frank Lartey, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ms. Phyllis Sakyi-Djan, Customs Division of the Ghana revenue Authority and representatives from the Ministries of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs.