The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in the Central Region has appealed to the Government to urgently establish a dedicated fund to support the treatment and rehabilitation of persons affected by substance abuse.
Assistant Commissioner of Narcotics (ACN) Felix Sarfo Yeboah, Central Regional Commander of NACOC, said the high cost of rehabilitation made it difficult for many affected persons and their families to access the necessary treatment.
He said the situation required urgent government intervention to ensure that addiction treatment was accessible to persons who needed it.
“It costs about GHC5,000 every month if you are seeking rehabilitation even at a government facility but look at every Ghanaian’s salary.
“If you need GHC5,000 to rehabilitate your ward, you can imagine why it is a problem and the government needs to come in and establish that fund so that we can help our people,” he said.
He questioned the limited access to treatment for persons affected by drug addiction, saying the country needed to treat substance abuse as a public health and social concern requiring appropriate support.
“If somebody has malaria, he goes to a clinic, hospital, or a good pharmacy to buy a drug. But if somebody is addicted to drugs, where does the person go?” he queried.
The Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), requires the Government to establish a rehabilitation fund to support the treatment of persons affected by substance abuse.
However, ACN Yeboah said the fund had yet to be established, creating an additional barrier to rehabilitation and recovery.
He said the situation was particularly concerning given the rising incidence of substance abuse among young people in Ghana.
ACN Yeboah said illicit drug use was generally prevalent in some coastal and illegal mining communities, while hotspots identified in the Central Region included Kasoa, Winneba, Mankessim and other areas.
To address the situation, he said NACOC had intensified enforcement and public education activities in schools, communities and other locations.
He, however, expressed concern about the limited cooperation from some schools and churches in the Commission’s sensitisation programmes.
He said some girls’ schools, in particular, had denied NACOC access to educate students because school authorities believed their students were not involved in drug use.
ACN Yeboah said the Commission’s enforcement activities had demonstrated the need for greater vigilance and education in schools.
He said persons working in and around schools, including security personnel, teachers, food vendors and other service providers, could potentially facilitate access to drugs among students.
The Commander cited a case involving a 17-year-old student who had developed a dependence on drugs, with investigations later identifying a security officer at the school as a source of supply.
He said further investigations helped the Commission trace the source of the drugs.
ACN Yeboah stressed that substance abuse was a concern that required the attention of every school and community, urging citizens to support efforts to combat opioids and other harmful substances.
He called for stronger collaboration among Government, schools, parents, religious bodies, security agencies and communities to prevent substance abuse and ensure that affected persons received timely treatment and rehabilitation.
