Navrongo (U/E), April 15, GNA - The youth of Navrongo in the Kassena Nankana East District have been rated first in alcohol consumption among five districts in the region.

Builsa District followed second, the Bongo District third, Kassena-Nankana West, fourth, and the Talensi Nabdam District fifth.

This came up in a survey carried out by Friends of the Future, a Community Based Organization (CBO) working to empower the socio-economic life of the youth in the region.

"It has become common among the youth of Navrongo to drink alcohol especially the local dry gin 'Akpeteshie,' at all times of the day and this has increased the rate of motor accidents and HIV/AIDS infection in the district."

"This is because people are not able to observe traffic regulation or practice abstinence or use condom during sexual intercourse with an infected person when they are under the influence of alcohol. Alcoholism has come to stay and nobody seems to notice the effect on the future of the area", the report said.

It said the unemployed youth in the area were 61 per cent, out of which 30 per cent are university graduates, 20 per cent, senior high school leavers while 11 per cent are school drop outs.

Friends of the Future told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that about 236 akpeteshie drinking spots had been counted in Navrongo central "and this indicates how the youth are actually into the deadly habit."

The District Chief Executive Mr. Emmanuel Andema, said the problem was due to lack of jobs for the youth and said since they were idle it was easy for them to go into social vices.

Mr. Andema said government had put in place many programmes that would engage the youth profitably.

The Chief of Navrongo, Pe Arthur Balinia, expressed concern about alcoholism and said it was unfortunate that it is getting out of hand.

He said the Navrongo Traditional Council (NTC) was taking measures to help curb the problem.

The District Police Commander, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Daniels Dery, said the police would take measures to deal with people who would take the law into their hands by violating road regulations and other social vices under the influence of alcohol.