Mr Daud Abang-Gos, Regional Coordinator of the National Youth

Authority (NYA), said the Authority launched 19 projects last year which were being implemented across the Region.

He said the NYA was targeting the youth and other stakeholders to ensure peaceful elections during and after the 2012 polls and also to help reduce the infection rate of HIV/AIDS.

He said it was as a result of this that the NYA invited experienced resource persons to deliver lectures on the various topics and advised the youth to see themselves as partners in national development.

Mr Alagskomah Norbert, a Staff of the Ministry of Health, said he was unhappy with the increasing numbers of premature deaths that are associated with alcohol and drug abuse, adding that a lot of the motor accidents in the Region could be attributed to substance abuse.

He appealed to the Assemblies in the Region to support the Ghana Health Service in confining the deranged people on the streets and to also provide social recreational centers for the youth.