Osman Ayariga, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA), has called for the ban of shisha and other harmful substances.
The NYA boss articulated dire concern over the increasing use of vaping mechanisms and similar products, which he labelled as a serious health risk to young people in Ghana.
According to him, the NYA is collaborating with security agencies to crack down on the circulation of opioids and other illicit drugs.
Osman Ayariga further revealed that he is intensifying sensitisation campaigns to educate young people about substance abuse.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Newsroom on Saturday, July 5, Osman Ayariga stated, The issue of substance abuse has become very teething and pivotal so far as the NYA is concerned”.
“I have heard various health arguments that [shisha] is very unhealthy for young people. So, anything that will be unhealthy to young people, I will always subscribe that it should be banned. This is a national conversation we need to have”, he added.
Osman Ayariga further revealed, “As I speak to you, there’s an operation happening in Accra — a joint operation by national security and some agencies — a crackdown on some ghettos”.
“We’re in constant collaboration with the police, Customs, and Immigration. We need to educate our young people to let them know that they can be addicted,” he stressed.
He further revealed that the NYA supports rehabilitation and reintegration efforts by offering recovered addicts skills training and employment support.
