GES to tighten measures to deal with drug abuse in schools

The Ghana Education Service (GES) says it will implement tighter regimes to deal with the incidence of drug and substance abuse in schools.

This comes after a report by the Consultative Committee to Combat Drug Menace in Schools established that about 54.1% of boys in Junior High and Senior High Schools use cannabis.

Director-General of the GES Prof Kwasi Opoku Amankwah said that his outfit is yet to review the report, however, they are ready to look at the recommendations given and take steps to ensure that the relevant measures are put in place.

“So let us spend some time to study the report, look at what they actually came out with, and see how best we can tighten the measures we have and any other recommendations they have so we can improve on the system,” he said as quoted by myjoyonline.

According to a survey which was carried out by the Committee, 59.9% of boys tend to use cigarettes more in schools.

It further established that 36% of boys and 32.1% of girls use alcohol in schools, while 34.3% of girls use shisha in schools.

Also, it was recorded that 72.7% of girls use pain relievers in schools.

The survey was conducted in 176 schools to ascertain the source and cause of an increase in drug use in various Senior High and Junior High Schools in the country, following the establishment of the Committee under a directive by President Akufo-Addo. 

Meanwhile, Prof Opoku Amankwah says GES is ready to implement already existing measures to help clamp down on substance abuse.