CEMED alarmed by unrestrained drug use and alcoholism

The Centre for Moral Education (CEMED), an NGO dedicated to the promotion of good moral values among young people, has expressed concern about the increasing use of hard drugs and binge drinking by Ghanaians.

Mr. Opoku Agyeman Prempeh, its Executive Director, said this was to blame “for the lawlessness, unruly conduct and the total disregard for basic standards of humanity, we are now seeing”.

He described the situation as deeply troubling, unhealthy and dangerous.

He expressed the sentiments, when he spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi.

Mr. Prempeh said it was common these days to see “many women take some shots” of the local gin “akpetshie” and other locally brewed liquor with funny brand names, to give them appetite before meals.

He indicated that the nation could not continue to travel down that path and highlighted the need to move quickly to deal with the threat.

“We are always being bombarded with radio and television advertisements on all kind of alcoholic beverages and bitters. This has become problematic - it is the plain and simple truth.”

Mr. Prempeh called for the church and the health authorities to scale up the effort to help people give up on alcohol and hard drugs.

They should do more to help everybody to appreciate the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on their health, he added.

He urged strict enforcement of the law by the police and the court to stop the lawlessness and impunity.

He said offenders of the law must be punished to serve as deterrence to others.

The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) must also up its game to aid people to get right with the law.