The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged the government to adopt stronger measures to tackle the widespread use and abuse of tramadol, marijuana and other readily accessible drugs across the country.
According to Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, president of the Bishops’ Conference, the escalating consumption of these substances is having a devastating impact on Ghana’s youth and demands urgent national attention as part of the broader drug‑trafficking response.
“In our villages and towns, we know the young men and women have taken to drugs—tramadol, ‘Red’, marijuana—and this is destroying many, many young men and women,” Gyamfi said. He added that the focus should not be limited to high‑profile narcotics such as cocaine, but must also address drugs that are easily available on shelves.
Gyamfi called for the enactment of stricter laws to ban the importation of these drugs and for enforcement agencies to clear them from the market. He urged authorities to strengthen efforts to prevent substance abuse among the youth while cracking down on illegal supply chains.
The Bishops’ appeal forms part of their broader concerns about the growing drug menace and its implications for communities across Ghana. They are urging the government to intensify enforcement against illegal drug sales and to expand preventive programmes for young people.
