The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has engaged the National House of Chiefs in Accra to strengthen nationwide efforts to combat rising drug abuse among Ghanaian youth through community collaboration and awareness campaigns.

The engagement, held with the Standing Committee of the National House of Chiefs, brought together key stakeholders to discuss coordinated strategies aimed at addressing the growing drug menace affecting young people across Ghana.

NACOC Director-General, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, led the discussions, urging urgent collective action from both state institutions and traditional authorities to confront what he described as a worsening national crisis.

He warned that Ghana risks losing a significant portion of its younger population if decisive measures are not taken.“We will lose our future generation to drugs if we fail to act collectively,” Brig. Gen. Mantey stated.

He revealed that most drug users identified in Ghana are between the ages of 20 and 29, describing the trend as a serious threat to national productivity, security, and development.

Brig. Gen. Mantey further disclosed that cannabis remains the most commonly abused drug in the country, reinforcing the need for sustained public education and enforcement efforts. He outlined NACOC’s recent operational activities, including arrests, raids, and prosecutions conducted over the past year as part of efforts to dismantle drug trafficking and abuse networks nationwide.

He also used the opportunity to invite the National House of Chiefs to participate in the 2026 World Drug Day commemoration scheduled for June 26 at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

The NACOC boss called on traditional leaders to use their influence at the community level to support anti-drug campaigns through festivals, durbars, and public education platforms.“We appeal to our esteemed chiefs to use festivals, durbars, and all other traditional gatherings for anti-drug campaigns and awareness,” he added.

President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, commended NACOC for its intensified efforts and pledged the full support of traditional authorities in combating drug abuse nationwide.

He reaffirmed the commitment of chiefs to collaborate with NACOC in protecting young people and strengthening community-level prevention strategies.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II also urged the media to actively support the campaign by dedicating airtime to drug education and awareness creation.

The engagement comes amid rising concern over increasing drug abuse cases among Ghanaian youth, particularly in urban and peri-urban communities.

NACOC says its strategy combines enforcement, education, and stakeholder collaboration as part of a broader national response to reduce substance abuse and protect future generations.