Accra (Greater Accra), 28th June 99

The Narcotics Control Board (NCB) says it is aware that some businessmen are part of drug syndicates in the country but needs the right information on their operations to arrest them, an official of the NCB said on Saturday.

Speaking at a durbar dubbed "Drug Awareness '99" in Accra, Mr Daniel Amankwah of the NCB, said the fact that they have not yet been caught does not mean the board is not aware of their activities.

"We only need enough evidence to arrest them," he said adding that so far, a few of such people have been caught and are serving various sentences but that more of them are still operating.

The durbar, marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking celebrated every June 26, was organised by the Ghana United Nations Students and Youth Association.

Mr Amankwah, who was speaking on "Preventing Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking: The Role of the Youth In The Next Millennium", explained the reactions the various drugs have on people.

Some of the drugs, he said, are mixed with shito, coca-cola or brewed as tea, which when taken, lead to the loss of both short-term and long-term memory.

Some of the drugs such as marijuana, cannabis, cocaine and the opiate plant manufactured into heroine can also cause skin cancer and make people have hallucinations.

In such cases, the victims see non-existing living forms, as well as hear voices that lead them to commit abnormal acts such as killing, stealing and rape.

The user becomes the first victim in the use of drugs; the next victim is the immediate society, mostly the family followed by the general society.

Mr Amankwah noted that there is evidence of student addicts in certain schools and cautioned:

"The fact that they serve as stimulant for staying awake does not mean they make students absorb what they learn, and the youth must stay away from it."

To combat drug addiction in schools, the NCB has established drug-free clubs in a few of them and called on others to emulate that.

He said the emphasis is on the youth, because they are the future leaders and they should be advised to engage in more rewarding activities such as reading, joining voluntary organisations.

They should also give information, when available, for an effective drug use campaign.

Schools present at the durbar include Achimota School, St Thomas Aquinas, Wesley Grammer, Christian Methodist and Chemu Secondary and Abuakwa State College.

GRi?/