Techiman (B/A), June 27, GNA - Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister of Interior, said on Monday the government would, with assistance from donor partners, support and implement international interventions in efforts to control international drug trafficking. He said this would ensure that the Narcotics Control Board carries out its mandate without fear or favour, no matter who might be involved in drug issue.

The Minister was speaking at the national celebration of the International Day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking at Techiman.

Under the theme "Drug Abuse and Children", the celebration was organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Those in attendance included traditional rulers, heads of department, opinion leaders, school children from selected first and second cycle institutions.

Mr. Dapaah reiterated the commitment of the Narcotics Control Board to its primary responsibility of drug prevention education, enforcement and control, treatment and rehabilitation, adding the government would continue to discourage the activities of drug peddlers and users in the country.

Mr. Dapaah said the prevention of the use of drugs therefore held a lot of benefits for the society and bemoaned that most armed robbers, rapists and others engaged in other forms of crimes and malfeasance often carried out these nefarious activities under the influence of drugs.

He noted that the current thrust of drug abuse and trafficking demanded some level of response from parents and teachers, looking at the role parents and teachers play in the upbringing of the youth. Mr. Dapaah urged them to attach great importance that could exert the required influence, attitudes and behaviours from children in order that in their formative years the child could be aware of the harmful effects of drugs.

He intimated that the use of drugs if not controlled could have very disastrous effect on society, saying it was the desire of government to prevent such phenomena that gave rise to the observation of the world drug day.

The Minister expressed the hope that the significance of the day would enable the Narcotics Control Board to lead all Ghanaians to make informed decisions about drugs and the need to prevent their use and help curb trafficking.

Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of United National (UN) in a speech read for him by Mr. Daniel Odai Laryea, Acting Executive Secretary of Narcotics Control Board emphasised the need for education of all persons to understand the menace of drugs, create the awareness that they are illegal since they cause physical health and mental problems.

He said drug addiction could spell misery for users and those close to them with deadly diseases such as HIV/AIDS that wreak their devastation to the users, irrespective of boundaries, income, race, occupation and geographical location.

Mr. Annan called for efforts to focus on the youth through outreach, peer-to-peer network and using opportunities such as sport to keep them active, health and confidence as a means of encouraging parents and teachers to play their roles fully.

He said the efforts also required working to reduce supply through law enforcement and working with the producing countries to give farmers sustainable alternatives to growing illicit crops as a way of striving to tackle poverty and drug supply at the same time.

Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister in a welcoming address, charged parents to observe and monitor the movement of their children against their indulgence in drugs, through proper education and dangers that could affect their future well-being. Drug availability and peer pressure also increase the livelihood that a child would begin this self-destructive course, he added.

Mr. Baffour Awuah asked parents, teachers, chiefs, opinion leaders, security agencies, drivers as well as whole communities to ensure that the children did not get into drugs by taking bold steps to combat such evil that had enslaved too many children in the society. He stressed the need for people to consider drug abuse as number one enemy in the society that should work hard to block the sources of production, processing, supply and distribution of illicit drugs in the society.

The Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, Oseadeeyo Akumfi-Ameyaw, who presided, called on religious bodies to use their pulpits to educate their members about drug abuse.

He appealed to the Narcotic Control Board to enforce its laws with heavy punishment on offenders to serve as a deterrent to people who engaged in such businesses and expressed disgust about the rampant gambling in the Techiman Central Market.

He appealed to the authorities to provide incentive packages to farmers to enable them to stop inter-cropping their farms with Indian hemp and commended the authorities for choosing Techiman. Earlier, there had been a street procession by school children carrying placards some of which read, "Do not spoil your future with drug addiction", "Cultivate maize and not marijuana", "Don't be a captive to drugs". 27 July 06