Narcotics Commission Urges Public To Report Drug -Related Business Near Schools.

The Narcotics Control Commission has urged the general public to report suspected drug-related activities and businesses operating close to schools to the Commission.

According to the Commission, drinking spots and other businesses located near schools that engage in the sale of illicit drugs create easy access for students and could contribute significantly to drug abuse among young people.

The call was made during a programme organised by Daylight Events to commemorate World Heart Day, with a focus on raising awareness about the effects of drug abuse on the heart and the need for students to stay away from illicit drugs.

Speaking at the programme, Senior Narcotics Control Officer at the Education and Prevention Unit of the Narcotics Control Commission, Clara Botchwey, said some drinking spots do not only sell alcoholic beverages but also engage in the sale of hard drugs.

She urged community leaders to discourage the establishment of pubs and drinking spots close to schools, arguing that their proximity could expose students to drugs and tempt them to experiment.

Madam Botchwey further called on the public to provide information on businesses operating near schools that are suspected of selling or facilitating access to illicit drugs.

Meanwhile, Director of Events at Daylight Events, Nana Yaw Opoku Danso, said the programme was organised to highlight the harmful effects of drug abuse on the heart and encourage students to abstain from drug use.

For his part, Asafoatse Nii Kakradawu III of the Tema Traditional Council urged students to remain focused on their education and resist peer pressure to engage in drug use.

The Member of Parliament for Tema West, Lawyer James Enu, also advised students to concentrate on their studies, warning that drug abuse could negatively affect their future.

REPORTER: AHIABOR AUGUSTINE.