The Tema Community 25 Lions Club took its “Say No to Drug Abuse” campaign to Asesewa Senior High School in the Upper Manya Krobo District as part of efforts to curb substance abuse among young people in September 2025.
The engagement, which marked the first school outreach under the campaign in the Lower and Upper Manya Krobo districts, brought together school authorities, local government officials and health professionals to educate students on the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
Addressing the gathering, the District Chief Executive for Upper Manya Krobo, Emmanuel Kwesi Larweh, cautioned students against drug abuse and underscored government’s concern about the growing problem among the youth.
The school community, led by Headmaster Paul Reiss Okoto, warmly received the organisers, with more than 1,500 students gathering for the programme. Officials from the Food and Drugs Authority sensitised students on the harmful effects of drug abuse, including the use of cigarettes and tobacco, and also introduced them to aspects of pharmacovigilance. The session was highly interactive, with students asking questions and engaging actively with facilitators.
During the visit, the headmaster appealed for support from Lions International and Rotary to address some infrastructural challenges facing the school, including the need for a male toilet facility and assistance to resolve sewage system issues. President of the Tema Community 15 Lions Club, Lion Dr. Ralph Tettey-Amlalo said “the requests would be formally documented and forwarded for consideration at the appropriate levels.”
He further expressed appreciation to Dr. Catherine Larko Narh-Menka of Narh-Bita Hospital for supporting the programme, which played an instryumental role in success and goal of the campaign, noting that it reinforced the urgency of addressing drug abuse and teenage pregnancy in the district, with strong collaboration from local authorities, school management and partner institutions.
