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Drug abuse on the rise among youth in Lawra …3 dead,Paramount Chief concerned
● Naa Puowele Karbo III
The Paramount Chief of the Lawra Traditional Area Naa Puowele Karbo III has called on Government and stakeholders in the Upper West Region to implement programmes and policies that would help address substance abuse and its impact on the youth.
He said three young people have died as a result of substance abuse in the Lawra Municipality in 2023, confirming concerns that illicit drug abuse was becoming a serious problem among the youth.
The Paramount Chief made the call during the celebration of this year’s Kobine festival of the Chiefs and People of the Lawra Traditional Area during last weekend.
It was on the theme “substance abuse, impact on human resource management.”
The festival was to give thanks to God and the ancestors for a successful end of the farming year and to welcome another farming season with the expectation of a good harvest.
Naa Karbo III stressed on the need for policy makers to develop social interventions that would create jobs and permanent livelihoods for the youth.
“The cause of the alarming rate of substance abuse especially among the youth can be attributed to the high unemployment rate among them and the frustration of highly qualified students not having access to further education or jobs and the general economic situation in the country”, he said.
The Chief said the effect of the harmful drugs included mental illness, labour diseases, kidney disorders and low productivity among the youth.
He called on development agents to ensure that programmes providing interventions to substance abuse be targeted at the family, schools and communities leaders with the view of raising awareness among peers.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Sallih said the fight against substance abuse was a shared responsibility which required all hands to help fight the menace.
He called on stakeholders in the country to get involved in the advocacy and fight against substance abuse among the youth.
He encouraged the youth to be advocates against the use of drugs among their peers and other youth in their various communities
From Rafia Abdul Razak, Wa
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
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Energy Minister announces full restoration of power generation units after major grid disruption
Energy Minister, John Jinapor has announced that all power generation units affected by the recent national grid disruption have been fully restored and are back in service.
According to the Minister on social media, engineers, technicians and emergency response teams worked continuously to restore electricity supply and stabilise the national grid after the incident caused major challenges within the power sector.
In a statement, the Minister praised the efforts of personnel from the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Volta River Authority and Electricity Company of Ghana for their commitment and coordination during the emergency.
“Mission accomplished. All generation units are now back in service,” the Minister stated.
He explained that despite the scale of the disruption, technical teams worked around the clock to restore power and secure stability within the system.
“Through their tireless work, discipline, and commitment to country, power has been restored and system stability secured,” he said.
The Minister further expressed appreciation to the leadership and staff of GRIDCo, VRA, ECG and other supporting agencies for their collective response to the crisis.
According to him, the successful restoration of the system demonstrates the resilience and capability of Ghanaian professionals in times of national difficulty.
“This moment shows that even under pressure, Ghana can rely on the strength and skill of its people,” he added.
The Minister offered prayers for the country’s energy sector and the engineers who led the restoration efforts.
“May God bless our engineers, our energy sector, and our nation,” he stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
