Accra, March 24, – A recent study by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has shown that half of Senior High School (SHS) students in Ghana are aware of drug use taking place on their campuses.
Early Exposure to Drug Environment
The findings suggest that while many students aged 14 to 15 years are not directly involved, they are frequently exposed to drug-related environments within their schools.
Awareness is even higher at the tertiary level, where seven in 10 students reported knowledge of drug use on campus.
Commonly Known Substances
According to the report:
Indian hemp (weed) and alcohol were the most widely known substances, each cited by 60 per cent of students
Hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine were known to about 10 per cent of respondents
Intervention Measures
Speaking before Parliament’s Governance Assurances Committee, the Minister, Mr George Opare-Addo, said the government was intensifying efforts to address the issue.
He highlighted the rollout of the “Red Means Stop” campaign, being implemented by the National Youth Authority in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to discourage drug use among young people.
A complementary Peace and Security initiative is also being implemented to promote discipline, reduce campus violence, and foster national values among students.
Focus on Vulnerable Youth
The Minister pointed out that young people who have completed SHS but remain unemployed were more likely to engage in drug use, stressing the importance of job creation and empowerment programmes.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to addressing the challenge through targeted education, awareness campaigns, and youth-focused interventions.
GHBUSS
March 24, 2026
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