Strengthen anti-drug agencies for efficient work – Blue Cross Society

The Ghana Blue Cross Society, a non-governmental organization of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana mandated to campaign against drug abuse, has expressed worry over the tendency with which the youth were becoming involved in drug abuse and trafficking.

The Society said its research indicated that substantial number of the youth kept experimenting with all forms of drugs and that the situation could spell doom for the nation in future if measures were not instituted to forestall the trend.

The Reverend Patrick Adjei Acheampong, General-Secretary of the Society, addressing the opening session of the Blue Cross Awareness Week in Kumasi at the weekend, said it was necessary that stakeholders complemented the efforts of government in strengthening effectively anti-drug agencies and organizations to build their capacity for efficient work.

These institutions, he said, ought to be resourced adequately by providing them with the requisite funds, logistics, equipment and also hold refresher courses and training programmes for them regularly to boost their competence.

The programme is designed to expose the members to their roles and responsibilities to bolster their work. It is also to take stock of the activities of the Society to help them plan effectively to achieve their objectives in the years ahead.

The General-Secretary said drug abuse and peddling do not auger well for any society’s development and, therefore, all hands must on deck to check the menace.

Reverend Dr. Nii Noi Odonkor, National President of the Society, appealed for funds from philanthropists to enable the Society carry out its programmes successfully.**