Ya-Na Abukari II bans illegal trade, possession of hard drugs in Dagbon

Ya-Na Abukari II, Overlord of Dagbon has declared a ban on the illegal trade and possession of hard drugs, particularly tramadol, in the Dagbon Kingdom.

He has directed all the Chiefs in the Kingdom to issue appropriate and severe punishment to offenders of the ban.

He indicated that as a matter of urgency, all chiefs should engage with the relevant security agencies to support the efforts in combating the menace within their respective traditional areas.

Ya-Na Abukari II gave the directive in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Fatawu Alhassan, Registrar of the Dagbon Tradition Council, during the First Council Meeting of the Dagbon Traditional Council at Yendi.

He was hopeful that all the Chiefs would work with their elders and all relevant stakeholders in their traditional areas to immediately stop the illegal trade and abuse of hard drugs.

He advised the youth to focus on education and skills acquisition for personal development and not the abuse of drugs.

He said the Dagbon Traditional Council in 2022 set up a Dagbon Development Fund to facilitate the implementation of a 10-year Dagbon Strategic Development Plan, which was launched by the Council.

Ya-Na Abukari II said the Development Fund was to mobilise resources to improve the quality of life of the people of Dagbon by creating opportunities that would harness the full social, economic, cultural, and political potential of the area in an environment of enduring peace.

He appealed for support from the government, NGOs, the business community, and philanthropic organisations to assist the chiefs and people of Dagbon to mobilise the resources necessary to rebuild and re-energise the area to contribute its quota to the socio-economic development of the country.

GNA