The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has raised serious concerns about the growing drug abuse crisis among tertiary students in Ghana, describing it as a looming threat to the country’s future.
Speaking at the JoyNews Dialogue Series on Thursday, August 28, under the theme “Breaking the Chains: Ghana’s Opioid Crisis,” the minister revealed disturbing statistics that underscore the scale of the problem.
He disclosed that 12 percent of students in universities and other tertiary institutions are using cocaine, while 11 percent are engaged in heroin use. He described the figures as both shocking and dangerous, noting that the availability of such hard drugs on campuses points to a worrying normalization of narcotics among young people.
Addo further explained that the problem extends well beyond hard drugs. Data gathered from students showed that 59 percent consume weed edibles, making them the most common substance in circulation.
Shisha and hookah use, often mixed with other intoxicants, accounted for 49 percent, while 41 percent admitted to abusing prescription drugs without proper medical guidance. Codeine-based cough syrups were also identified as a major concern, with 28 percent of students acknowledging misuse.
He described universities as the epicentres of the crisis, contrasting them with nursing and health training colleges where drug abuse is relatively low.
According to him, the stricter disciplinary systems in health training institutions act as a deterrent, while the freer environment in universities provides fertile ground for experimentation and abuse.
The minister warned that unless urgent action is taken, Ghana risks losing a significant portion of its youth to addiction, which could have severe implications for national development. He called on schools, families and policymakers to strengthen interventions and intensify education on drug abuse to prevent further escalation.
