The Tema Community 25 Lions Club launched its “Say No to Drug Abuse” campaign in the Lower and Upper Manya Krobo districts, marking the start of a community-focused effort to curb the growing menace of substance abuse among the youth.
The campaign was formally introduced in September 2025 at the Konor’s Palace in Manya Krobo, where members of the club engaged divisional chiefs, queen mothers and residents of the area. Although the Konor was unavailable due to travel outside the country, the presence of traditional leaders and the public at an ongoing palace programme provided a platform for the club to outline the objectives of the campaign and explain its focus on the Manya Krobo communities.
According to the President of Tema Community 25 Lions Club, Lion Dr. Ralph Tettey-Amlalo, the initiative received strong support from traditional authorities, with several queen mothers commending the campaign as a timely intervention to protect young people from drug and alcohol abuse. Chiefs also extended an invitation to the group to return during the official Ngmayem Festival week to provide updates and further sensitise the wider community.
In line with custom, the club presented two bottles of schnapps to the palace as a symbolic gesture of respect and to formally seek permission to engage with the traditional leadership. The group also held discussions with officials of the Ghana Health Directorate in the Lower Manya Krobo District, who welcomed the campaign and indicated their readiness to collaborate, particularly in response to increasing reports of drug and alcohol abuse hotspots in Odomase Krobo.
As part of the day’s activities, members of the Lions Club’s Leo group, together with Rotaract members, toured parts of Odomase Krobo to engage their peers. They were joined by Miss Ngmayem contestants, who pledged their support for the campaign. Organisers say the warm reception and positive feedback from stakeholders have laid a strong foundation for the continued rollout of the anti-drug abuse campaign across the districts.
