The Tema West Education Directorate is set to establish anti-drug clubs in schools as part of efforts to protect young people from the growing threat of substance abuse.
The initiative was announced by Mrs Sofia Arko, Tema West Education Director, during the launch of the 2026 World Heart Day Campaign by Daylight Event, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).
The campaign, being held under the theme “Say No to Drugs, Don’t Hurt the Heart,” seeks to educate basic and senior high school students on the dangers of illicit drug use and its potential impact on their health and future.
Mrs Arko expressed concern about the increasing use of substances such as tramadol, cannabis and shisha among young people, warning that habits developed during childhood could have serious consequences later in life.
“What destroys the heart in adulthood starts in childhood. A heart meant to live up to 70 years is forced to stop at 15 because of drugs,” she said.
She said the Education Directorate would complement the anti-drug clubs with counselling services and collaboration with health professionals to conduct regular health screenings for students.
Mrs Arko urged parents, teachers and other adults to take greater responsibility for protecting children from substance abuse, stressing that young people represented the future of the country.
She also advised students to resist peer pressure and reject illicit drugs to safeguard their health and enable them to lead productive lives.
Mrs Judith Azuma, Chief Executive Officer of Restored and Renewed Rehab Centre, called for a change in the way society viewed drug addiction.
She said addiction should be treated as a medical condition requiring professional intervention rather than being regarded as a moral failure.
Mrs Azuma noted that women battling addiction often faced additional difficulties because of family and other responsibilities.
She therefore appealed to parents not to confine children struggling with addiction at home, but to seek appropriate medical and rehabilitation support.
Nana Yaw Opoku Danso, Director of Events at Daylight Event, also shared a personal experience to highlight the devastating effects substance abuse could have on an individual’s life and mental health.
He urged parents and community leaders to support rehabilitation rather than simply seeking the release of young people arrested for drug-related offences.
“It is not about the crowd; it is about the message,” he said.
Nana Danso said Daylight Event had lined up a series of activities ahead of World Heart Day on September 29 to extend the campaign to communities across the municipality.
The activities will begin with a street walk on Friday, September 11, involving Junior High and Senior High School students from Tema Communities 2 and 5 to sensitise the public on substance abuse.
The street walk will be followed by the “Tema Fitness Fiesta” on September 27, featuring an exercise session and health screening involving local keep-fit clubs, corporate organisations and personnel from the Police, Army, Navy and Ghana National Fire Service.
The campaign will climax on September 29 with a school conference, where health experts and civic leaders will engage students on substance abuse, healthy lifestyles and the need to protect their hearts.
