Alhaji Ahmed Osman Maiwada Masala II, the Takoradi Zongo Chief, has called on state actors within the Region to intervene in dealing with the rise of illicit drug use among Zongo youths.
He said the situation was hurting their health, hence the need for effective collaboration particularly with security officials, to clamp down on those involved in the sale of such drugs within these communities.
Alhaji Masala, also the President of Western Region Heads of Zongo Chiefs, appealed when he led other Zongo Chiefs in the Western Region to pay a courtesy call to the Regional Minister at the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) at Sekondi.
He said: “In recent times, illegal drug dealers are gradually invading our communities to sell these substances to our youth. We are appealing to you to intervene and curb this situation because it is destroying our young people”.
He assured the Regional Minister of the chiefs’ commitment to establish a healthy working relationship with the government, to help bring the much-needed development to the Zongo communities.
Mr Joseph Nelson, the Western Regional Minister, assured the chiefs and people of Zongo communities in the Western Region, of the government’s commitment to address development challenges confronting them through strategic policies and interventions.
He said the government recognised some of the issues in those communities and had already introduced some pragmatic and pro-poor policies required to change the narrative.
He mentioned the reduction of Hajj fares as one of the major policy interventions that demonstrated the government’s commitment in putting in place appropriate mechanisms, to improve on the welfare of those in the Zongo communities.
The Minister appealed to the chiefs to collaborate with the government to promote unity, peace and tranquillity in the Zongo communities and the Region in general for sustainable development.
GNA
