A member of the Governing Board of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) Rev. Dr Fred Deegbe has admonished the youth of the country to refrain from engaging in all manner of nefarious activities that would hinder their health during the yuletide.

According to him, most youth during Christmas periods take advantage to indulge in promiscuous acts, especially drugs, mainly to ‘free them’ or ‘go high’ at most entertainment joints.

These acts, he added, leads to the spread of STDs such as HIV and AIDS as a result of engaging in unprotected sex, road carnage, armed robbery, which has serious consequences on the society at large.

Rev. Dr Deegbe who is also the immediate General Secretary of the Ghana Christian Council made this observation during NACOB’s maiden ‘Nine Lessons and Carols’ event which was held at the forecourt of the Narcotics Control Board Headquarters on Monday 23rd December 2013.

“Christmas is a special occasion used to reflect upon the birth of our saviour Jesus Christ by showing care, love, extend assistance to the needy rather than engaging in unnecessary activities such as going to beaches, clubbing, throwing big parties for people to wine and dine; it is time Ghanaians refrain from that’. He noted.

He called on all to use the Christmas festivity to educate the youth on the dangers of drug use to the human health, saying drug abuse must be addressed dispassionately.

“The fight against drug trade is not only the course of NACOB, but would entreat all the rank and file of the various agencies responsible for the collective welfare of mankind to join hands to fight against this canker, which has taken away the lives of innocent ones and rendered others redundant”.

Sheikh Ishaak Nuamah, a member of the Governing Board urged members of staff to remain focused and be disciplined in their work to help raise the image of the board.

Mrs Akua Amartey, a Deputy CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and a member of the Governing Board of NACOB praised staff members for their desire to fight the drug problems faced by the country.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of NACOB, Mr. Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, commended members of staff of the Board for their dedication to duty and their resolve to serve the country with the collective aim of combating the drug trade.

Mr. Akrasi-Sarpong further stated that the board is committed to ensure that the fight against illicit drug trade and usage is totally eradicated, and the bad tag of Ghana as a transit hub for narcotic drugs from source countries like Brazil, Peru, and Colombia to Europe, as well as America is completely erased.

The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Naval Captain Baffour Assasie Gyimah (Rtd) in his remarks urged officers to remain focused and be mindful of the tenets of their loyalty to the nation with regards to fighting the drug trade.

He hailed the staff for their cooperation and hardwork, and expressed his hope that a lot of maximum work would be done to salvage the alarming rate of drug usage in the country in the coming years.