The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has disclosed that a recent research commissioned by his Ministry has revealed deeply troubling levels of opioid and substance abuse among Ghana’s youth, particularly across tertiary institutions.
Speaking at the launch of the Youth Sounding Board, a collaborative initiative of the European Union and the Government of the Netherlands, the Minister stressed that the findings exposed worrying trends that threaten both productivity and social stability in the country.
“We have commissioned research on opioids and the substance abuse crisis, which is undermining productivity and social stability, and our findings are ready, and they are very alarming. We sampled almost all our tertiary institutions, and based on what I have found, I need to brief the President first before making it public”
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
The Minister indicated that the full report would be made available after President John Dramani Mahama has been formally briefed. According to him, the scale of the problem uncovered requires immediate attention at the highest levels of government.
“We have commissioned research on opioids and substance abuse, and the findings are very alarming. Almost all tertiary institutions were sampled, and based on the results, I must first brief the President before releasing them”
George Opare Addo, Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment
The revelation underscores growing fears about drug abuse among the youth, with opioids increasingly identified as a serious public health and social concern.
The government has faced calls from stakeholders to implement stronger preventive measures, including rehabilitation programmes, stricter regulation of pharmaceuticals, and community-level education to curb the trend.
Mr. Opare Addo assured members of the Youth Sounding Board that the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment would work closely with them to address the challenges confronting young people. He stressed that partnerships with stakeholders and international development partners remain critical to tackling issues such as drug abuse, unemployment, and social instability.
The Minister explained that the Youth Sounding Board initiative represents an opportunity for young people to engage directly with policy and decision-making processes, ensuring their concerns are reflected in national development strategies.
By drawing insights from young voices, he argued, policies addressing drug abuse and related challenges would be better aligned with the realities facing the youth.
National Challenge Demanding Urgent Response
The findings, though yet to be made public, already highlight the urgency of interventions in tertiary institutions across Ghana.
Reports of opioid abuse have surfaced in recent years, raising alarm over the increasing accessibility of illicit substances to students. Health experts warn that drug abuse not only undermines academic performance but also exposes young people to long-term health complications and fuels cycles of dependency and social instability.
The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment’s decision to commission the study reflects growing recognition of the seriousness of the problem. The expectation now rests on the swift release of the findings and the rollout of concrete measures to address them.
With President Mahama set to be briefed, the government faces mounting pressure to respond decisively. Stakeholders in education, health, and youth development have long argued that substance abuse among young people is eroding Ghana’s human capital potential.
At the Youth Sounding Board launch, Mr. Opare Addo’s comments pointed to a recognition of these concerns and a willingness to engage directly with the youth in finding solutions.
While the European Union and the Government of the Netherlands have thrown their weight behind the initiative, many await clarity on how Ghana intends to implement its own domestic strategy to counter the rising opioid threat.
For now, the promise of government intervention provides a measure of assurance. However, until the findings are publicly released and a clear policy direction is outlined, fears of worsening drug abuse in tertiary institutions remain unresolved.
