Junior High School students are taking on a new responsibility in Ghana’s fight against drug and substance abuse after a group of Basic Nine graduates were commissioned as Youth Anti-Drug Advocates.
The initiative was led by the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in partnership with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). The new advocates were commissioned during the maiden Thanksgiving, Graduation and Awards Day of the UHAS Basic School in Ho on 1 August 2026.
The students underwent a two-day intensive training programme organised by UHAS and NACOC. The training focused on the dangers and consequences of drug and substance abuse and the importance of making informed and responsible choices.
According to NACOC, the programme formed part of activities associated with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The training was intended to equip the students with knowledge that they could use to educate their peers and promote healthier lifestyles.
The newly commissioned advocates are expected to serve as positive role models in their Senior High Schools and communities. Their responsibilities include educating other young people about the dangers of drug abuse, discouraging substance misuse and encouraging healthy and responsible lifestyles.
The programme also places emphasis on compassion. Professor Frank Edwin, Pro Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, urged the advocates not to stigmatise people experiencing drug dependence but to encourage them to seek rehabilitation and return to productive lives.
ADVOCATES RECEIVE JOINTLY ENDORSED CERTIFICATES
Following the training, the Youth Anti-Drug Advocates received certificates jointly endorsed by UHAS and NACOC. The students also pledged to apply the knowledge and values acquired from the programme in their schools and communities. The initiative involved BECE graduates from the UHAS Basic School as well as graduates from nine other basic schools in the Ho Municipality, extending the programme beyond a single school.
The commissioning comes amid broader efforts in Ghana to strengthen drug prevention education among young people. In June 2026, NACOC organised a Drug-Free Clubs Art Competition involving basic schools, with Kotoka Basic School emerging as the winner. The competition used creative arts to communicate anti-drug messages and encourage positive behaviour among students.
NACOC officials have also highlighted concerns about substance use among students and the need for sustained prevention, sensitisation and education in schools and communities. The Commission has described its Drug-Free Clubs as a means of equipping students with life skills and empowering them to become ambassadors against drug abuse.
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