Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday said Government's relentless fight against drugs was to protect Ghanaian youths and future leaders.

He reiterated Government's belief in the youth to pursue the mantle of leadership with an assurance that Government would continue to invest in the youth to take their rightful place in national development.

President Mills made the observation when addressing the 66th United Nations General Assembly in New York, in the United States of America.

He made it clear that Ghana remained steadfast in her fight against illicit drugs, and would continue to implement policies that would secure the future of the youth.

President Mills said in addition to protecting the youth from drugs, government would equip them with improved educational opportunities and invest their overall development.

“Government has phased out 1,000 schools under trees with permanent structures and provided free school uniforms and free exercise books to school pupils, “he added.

President Mills assured the international community of Government’s commitment to ensure that Election 2012 would be conducted in a free, fair and credible manner.

He said the Electoral Commission had put in place the necessary mechanisms to ensure Ghanaians made their choice of leaders at the polls.

President Mills noted the high marks Ghana had achieved in conducting elections in recent years and pledged that his administration would not want to do anything that would affect the standards that the nation had achieved so far.

He invited the UN to show the same level of interest in Election 2012 by sending observers as pertained in 2008.

On security, President Mills paid tribute to UN Forces for the supreme sacrifice of laying down their lives in the quest for peace.

He announced that Ghana had shifted paradigm from national to human security, and appeal to the UN to assist Ghana to concretise her efforts to strengthen rule of law.

President Mills called on the UN Assembly to come out with proposals that would control the flow of weapons to illicit markets, while the UN and the Donor Community made early and adequate budgetary and financial provisions for continual contribution of troops and police personnel to the UN peace operations.

He stressed on women empowerment and gender equality, and on-going reforms at the UN to address emerging challenges of global dimensions.