Chief Imam Warns Against Rising Drug Abuse as Ghana Prepares for 2026 World Drug Day
Ghana’s National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has sounded the alarm over what he described as a growing crisis of drug abuse among the country’s young people, warning that the trend threatens to undermine an entire generation if left unchecked.
Sheikh Sharubutu’s remarks came during a working visit by the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, and a delegation of senior officials to the Chief Imam’s residence in Accra. The visit, which took place ahead of the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking scheduled for June 26, was part of a broader campaign to engage influential national figures in the fight against substance abuse.
The Chief Imam lamented the increasing prevalence of narcotic and psychoactive substances among young Ghanaians, describing the indiscriminate use of drugs as a force that is destroying the potential of many who could otherwise contribute meaningfully to national development. He called for urgent, collective action from all segments of society.
Brigadier General Mantey expressed concern that the problem extends beyond what law enforcement alone can address. He stressed that NACOC’s mandate — encompassing public education, enforcement and the elimination of trafficking networks — requires the active support of religious leaders, traditional authorities, parents, schools and civil society organisations.
“The fight against drug abuse cannot be won by the Commission alone,” the NACOC Director-General said, urging all sectors of society to rally behind efforts to reduce substance abuse and curb illicit trafficking in Ghana.
The visit also served to formally invite the Chief Imam to the grand durbar marking World Drug Day, which will take place at the UPSA Main Auditorium in Accra. The event is expected to bring together government officials, health professionals, religious leaders and youth advocates to discuss strategies for tackling the drug menace.
Ghana has in recent years seen a worrying uptick in the use of substances ranging from tramadol and codeine-based cough syrups to cannabis and methamphetamine, particularly among young people in urban and peri-urban communities. Health authorities have linked the trend to rising rates of mental illness, crime and school dropout.
The NACOC delegation included Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah and other members of the Commission’s management team. Officials indicated that the Commission plans to intensify its outreach and enforcement activities in the coming months, with a particular focus on border communities and educational institutions.
Sheikh Sharubutu’s public endorsement of the anti-drug campaign is expected to lend significant moral weight to NACOC’s efforts, given his stature as one of Ghana’s most respected religious leaders and his influence across both Muslim and non-Muslim communities nationwide.
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