Accra: The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has received a significant boost in its fight against substance abuse with a GHS500,000 donation from the RNAQ Foundation. The funds are aimed at enhancing the Red Means Stop Campaign, an initiative that aligns with this year’s International Youth Day theme, ‘Local Youth Action for the SDGs and Beyond’. In Ghana, this theme is further localized to ‘Igniting Potential, Inspiring Change’.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. George Opare Addo, the sector minister, expressed his gratitude upon receiving the dummy cheque from Mr. Richard Nii Armah Quaye, the Founder and Chief Executive of the RNAQ Foundation. Mr. Addo emphasized the need for comprehensive data to address drug abuse effectively. To this end, the Ministry has partnered with a credible research organization to study substance conditions in secondary schools, universities, and urban communities.
Mr. Addo highlighted the importance of understanding the root causes and obtaining concrete data to develop effective interventions. He mentioned the Ministry’s plans to integrate RNAQ Foundation into its national entrepreneurship and innovation program, acknowledging its broader youth development initiatives, which include support for entrepreneurs and food bank programs serving deprived communities.
The Minister called on Ghanaians to actively participate in the anti-drug fight, emphasizing that the drug crisis poses a threat to every family, regardless of social status. He urged social media users to focus on drug abuse awareness and appealed to businesses and philanthropists to support the cause.
Mr. Addo also outlined various activities planned for the commemoration of International Youth Day, including health insurance registration drives and a potential youth carnival.
On his part, Mr. Richard Nii Armah Quaye stated that the donation reflects the RNAQ Foundation’s concern about the growing threat of drug addiction, drawing from his experiences as a multinational businessman. He stressed the economic importance of protecting the young population, stating that the youth are Ghana’s ‘gold mine’ and crucial for the country’s economic fortunes.
Mr. Quaye revealed that the Foundation has already established food banks in the Greater Accra Region as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of drug abuse. These food banks aim to provide support and reduce pressures that might lead to substance abuse. The Foundation plans to expand these food banks nationwide, targeting deprived communities where opioid abuse is most prevalent.
The CEO emphasized that the donation is a commitment to collaborate with the Ministry in preventing a potential national catastrophe, symbolizing a unified effort against opioid abuse under the banner ‘Red Means Stop’.