Private sector asked to support fight against drug abuse

Jirapa, (U/W), Feb. 29, GNA – Mr. Cezar Kale, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, on Tuesday called on the private sector to support non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to establish a fund for the fight against drug abuse.

The fund, he said, could be managed solely by the NGOs but supervised by Narcotics Control Board (NACOB).

The Deputy Regional Minister made the request during the launch of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2011 Annual Report, at the Saint Francis Girls Senior High School (SHS) at Jirapa in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region.

He said Government had so far raised the standard and bar for tackling the illicit drug menace in terms of control supply and demand reduction in the country.

Mr. Kale also noted that Government had given the NACOB the clearance to recruit more qualified personnel to augment its current staff strength for the fight against the illicit drug trade in the country.

He said the effect of drug abuse in the country was devastating, and added that statistics for general attendants, compiled by the four Psychiatric Hospitals, was 19,254 cases.

Mr. Kale said drug-related cases of first time patients at the psychiatric hospitals were 2, 909, indicating that out of the total general attendance, drug abuse-related cases alone, formed 15 per cent.

He advised the youth to avoid drug abuse, considering the devastating effect it could have on their health.

Mr. Ben Quaye, Deputy Director of Prisons Service, in a speech he read on behalf of Naval Captain (rtd) Asaase Gyimah, Board Chairman of NACOB, said the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) report, which is launched annually, seeks to reveal current trends in drug trafficking and usage across the globe.

He said globally in 2009, between 149 million and 272 million people, representing between 3.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent of the population aged between 15 and 64 years, used illicit substances at least once in the previous years.

Mr Quaye said the 2011 INCB report seeks to look at the need to protect the youth from drug abuse and dependence.

He said NACOB had submitted a draft Bill to the Attorney Generals' Department in 2011, and expressed the hope that Parliament would consider and pass the bill into law this year, to make NACOB an autonomous body and also cure the ills of the PNDCL 236.

Mr. Ishak Bakuri, Upper West Regional Head of NACOB, who delivered a presentation on drug abuse, said there were 13 million and 16 million abusers of cocaine and heroine worldwide.

He said the effect of drugs on individuals was dependent on the genetic/biological composition of the individual, and advised the youth not to use illicit drugs.

GNA