The Entertainment Chief (Dema Naa) of the Dagomba Community in North America, Basha Ibrahim Iddrisu, has called on both state and non-state actors to urgently take actions to fight against the prevalence of drug abuse in the Northern Region.
He argues that drug usage and trafficking in the region has now become a national security issue, therefore the need for all stakeholders including government to take immediate actions to curb the menace.
According to him, though many only see the abuse of illicit and contraband drugs as purely a health issue, Naa Basha intimates that it is also a threat to Ghana’s national security.
“Drug abuse is not only a health issue, but also a threat to our safety and national security. It fuels crime, violence, and instability” the Dema Naa of North America said.
Addressing the opening ceremony of a traditional dance festival christened in the Dagbon parlance [Nag’biegu] in Tamale over the weekend to create awareness on the dangers of the use of illicit drugs, Mr. Basha Ibrahim noted that the time has come for everyone to join the fight to save the future of the youth.
He indicated: “We are not just victims, we are also victors. We can make a difference. Every single one of us has a role to play in the fight against drug abuse. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, community leader, or simply a concerned citizen, your actions count”.
He consequently made a clarion call for support to rescue individuals addicted to drugs and shun stigmatizing such people in the society.
“Let us educate ourselves and others, let us support those struggling with addiction, and let us demand action from our leaders” he emphasized.
Chief Alhaji Muhammad Umar, the Chief of the Dagomba Community in North America and Tunŋ Lana of Yelizoli in the Zabzugu District of the Northern Region expressed concern over the absence of a rehabilitation center in the Northern Region.
He further called on the government to fast-track efforts to complete the ongoing psychiatric hospital project in the region which among other things will serve as a rehabilitation center.
He also emphasized the need for government to show particular interest in the fight against the menace, stating that “Private individuals alone cannot prevent drug taking in the Northern region or in Dagbon. We need your help” Drug usage and trafficking in many parts of the Northern Region have reached alarming rates, with many young people engaged in the abuse of drugs and substances including weed, cocaine, tramadol and codeine among others.
