The shocking drug use rate among Ghanaian students has deeply alarmed Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment George Opare Addo, who has described the issue as a developing national disaster that jeopardizes the nation’s future labor force.
Speaking about the situation of young people in Accra, the Minister disclosed that 37% of senior high school pupils and 41% of university students had experienced drug use. He claims that this data emphasizes the critical need for a coordinated national response to the growing problem of youth substance usage.
According to Mr. Opare Addo, teenagers are experimenting with dangerous substances like alcohol, marijuana, synthetic pills like the well-known “red 2-2-5,” and occasionally real drugs like cocaine and heroin on school campuses.
He pointed out that peers, street vendors, bars, and even concealed on-campus sellers have made it unsettlingly simple to obtain these drugs.
“The problem is no longer limited to street corners,” he warned. “With the growth of online ordering and courier delivery systems, young people can now access drugs with minimal human interaction, making enforcement and prevention far more challenging.”
The Minister further stated that the motivations behind drug use among students are complex and diverse. While curiosity, peer influence, and the desire to fit in are key factors, others turn to drugs as a coping mechanism for stress, academic pressure, emotional struggles, and social anxiety. He noted that although 63% of youth believe drugs do not enhance academic performance, the fact that a significant number still use them shows that misconceptions and social influences remain powerful drivers.
Early drug exposure might have disastrous effects, Mr. Opare Addo cautioned. According to our data, 26% of new users are between the ages of 14 and 15, and 41% are between the ages of 16 and 17.
Early experimenting damages memory, learning, and emotional regulation, which can result in behavioral issues, long-term addiction, and absenteeism, he said. He went on to say that families and the country as a whole are also affected. When one member of a family begins misusing drugs, it becomes a family problem rather than just an individual one. Everyone is impacted,” he emphasized.
The Minister called for urgent and coordinated national action, noting that only 36% of educational institutions currently have counselling and support services to help students dealing with substance-related problems. “That figure is woefully inadequate,” he said. “We need to strengthen counselling units, intensify awareness campaigns, and provide more psychosocial support across our schools and communities.”
He announced that the Ministry for Youth Development and Empowerment will soon begin working with relevant stakeholders including the Ministries of Health and Education, as well as civil society groups to design a comprehensive national strategy to combat drug use and promote mental health among the youth.
Mr. Opare Addo underlined that safeguarding the health and welfare of Ghana’s youth is a shared national responsibility as well as a governmental one.
“Every young person who dies from drug abuse represents a lost opportunity for the country.” The youth are Ghana’s greatest asset and the cornerstone of the country’s future. We can’t afford to turn away,” he said.