The host of Resilient Road, a drug abuse and addiction awareness program on Atinka 104.7 FM, Asare-Addo Ebenezer, known in media circles as Asare-Bediako Addo, has urged authorities to prioritize education, counseling, and rehabilitation over punitive measures in addressing drug abuse among students.
His comments follow a recent directive by the Minister of Education, Hon. Harunah Iddrisu, instructing the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES) to take disciplinary action, including dismissal, against students found in possession of or using illegal drugs in schools.
Reacting to the directive, Asare-Bediako Addo acknowledged the need to address the growing concern of substance abuse in educational institutions but stressed that punishment alone would not solve the problem.
He argued that drug addiction should be recognised and treated as a mental health condition that requires professional medical care, counseling, guidance, and continuous support rather than exclusion from the educational system.
According to him, dismissing students who struggle with substance abuse could worsen their circumstances by denying them access to education and structured support, potentially pushing them further into addiction.
Instead, he called for intensified nationwide education on the dangers of drug abuse, alongside stronger preventive programmes in schools and communities. He also advocated increased investment in counseling services and rehabilitation initiatives to help affected students recover and successfully reintegrate into society.
Asare-Bediako Addo further appealed to policymakers, educational authorities, parents, and community leaders to adopt a more compassionate and evidence-based approach in tackling substance abuse among young people, emphasizing that prevention, awareness, and treatment remain the most effective tools in addressing the challenge.
