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Dealing with drug abuse among youth… PCG calls for renewed, collaborative intervention to curb menace
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The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has raised alarm over the spate of drug abuse among the youth, describing the situation as a ‘ticking time bomb’ that requires immediate and collaborative intervention.
It said the infiltration of drugs into educational institutions was becoming increasingly alarming, with reports of drug peddling at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels which threatens the future of students.
The church gave the caution in a communiqué issued at its just ended 26th General Assembly held at Abetifi-Kwahu in the Eastern region.
The assembly, which is the highest decision-making body of the Church, was held on the theme: ‘Celebrating our heritage: Building on the foundation already laid.’
It had in attendance commissioners and representatives from all presbyteries and courts of the church, government officials, ecumenical partner churches, among other dignitaries.
According to the Church, the substance abuse crises was dire in informal settlements across the country with the misuse of marijuana, the street drug known as ‘kush’, as well as substances such as ‘Red’, which it identified as containing Tapentadol and Carisoprodol, and Tramadol, wasting away many young people.
It said although the Ghana Blue Cross, a substance abuse focused non-profit organisation within the PCG, had been involved in efforts to combat the menace for more than 120 years, it indicated that the changing nature and persistence of the phenomenon called for renewed and decisive action.
The PCG urged that the threat is not treated just as a social or health concern but as a matter of national security, given its potential impact on the country’s young population and future workforce.
It called for strict monitoring of the cultivation and processing of therapeutic cannabis and industrial hemp permitted in Ghana for medicinal purposes, cautioning that the initiative should not be allowed to create another avenue for the proliferation of illicit drugs.
Moreover, it urged the Ghana Police Service, religious organisations and other civic stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and establish a unified stand against the growing drug menace to particularly protect young people.
By Abigail Annoh
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced plans to introduce a new Bill to strengthen the legal framework for the discipline of lawyers in Ghana.
In an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Attorney-General at the opening of the 2026 Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, Dr. Ayine disclosed that the Bill is headed to Cabinet for review and approval before being laid before Parliament.
The proposed law, to be called the Legal Profession (Practitioners Standards Board) Bill, is expected to transform and strengthen the regulatory framework for disciplining lawyers to safeguard the rights of practitioners and promote public confidence in the profession.
According to the Attorney-General, when passed, the Bill will establish an independent Disciplinary Committee with clear rules of procedure and proposals on proportionate sanctions.
He explained that this marks a progressive departure from the existing framework where the Disciplinary Committee both investigates and adjudicates complaints. The Bill also proposes clear and strict procedural timelines for resolving grievances to avert prolonged deliberations that frustrate both clients and lawyers.
Secondly, Dr. Ayine noted that under the current framework, Superior Court judges sit on the Disciplinary Committee whose decisions, as quasi-judicial decisions, are subject to reviews and appeals in the same courts where these judges preside.
The new Bill seeks to eliminate this conflict of interest by creating a separately constituted Board composed of lay non-lawyers and professional representatives with guaranteed tenure.
The Attorney-General added that the Bill seeks to separate professional discipline from executive, judicial or competitive interference to ensure that disciplinary mechanisms are not weaponized against lawyers by clients, the Bench, or the State.
The introduction of the new law forms part of efforts by the Attorney-General to introduce reforms into the legal profession aimed at revolutionizing legal practice and training. It follows the passage of the Legal Education Act, 2026, which is currently at the implementation stage.
News
Gov’t did not approve market near school — Stan Dogbe clears air on Ahafo Ano South market siting
Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Xoese Dogbe has reacted to a viral video raising concerns about the siting of a market close to a school in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region.
In a post responding to the video, Mr. Dogbe said he has been in contact with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, who he said is on top of the situation and has long since halted the construction process.
According to him, the decision to designate the said land near the school for the market was not a government decision.
“Once the development was brought to the RCC’s attention, the regional minister immediately asked that the process be stopped,” he stated.
Mr. Dogbe explained that the community currently has no available land space for the construction of the model market, which necessitated their choice of the location near the school.
He noted however that the community has been asked to find another, more suitable piece of land for the project to commence.
“We thank all for the interest in developmental issues in our communities,” he added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
