Sunyani, March 2, GNA - Nana George Kofi Dadzie, a member of the Council of State, has called on individuals and organisations to support government in the fight against drug abuse, especially wee smoking among the youth.

He said government's efforts to produce a sound and quality human resource-base required for national development would be a mirage if the issue of drug abuse was not critically tackled. Nana Dadzie made the call at the 15th anniversary and the second speech and prize giving day of Infant Jesus Primary and Junior High School in Sunyani on Friday.

The event was on the theme: "Sustainability of the country's growth and development-the role of the child."

Nana Dadzie bemoaned the upsurge of drug abuse in the country's second cycle institutions adding that "Almost all the second cycle schools in the country are bedevilled with the drug abuse menace and this is a very dangerous phenomenon, which needed to be tackled urgently". He said government was making strenuous efforts to support private schools so that they could continue to contribute meaningfully towards the education sector.

Nana Dadzie advised the students to study hard and eschew all forms of unhealthy lifestyle that could ruin their future. Nana Kwadwo Kwakyie II, Proprietor of the school, cautioned the students against lateness and absenteeism. He said the academic facility, which started with only 16 students, could now boast of 420 students.