Kotoka Basic School wins NACOC's Drug-Free Art Camp competition

Kotoka Basic School has emerged victorious in the Narcotics Control Commission's (NACOC) Drug-Free Art Camp competition, an event held as part of activities marking International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The competition, themed 'Empowering the Youth Through Creative Arts,' brought together pupils from Kotoka Basic School and Burma Camp Basic School to promote awareness of the dangers of substance abuse.

Kotoka Basic School received a cash prize of GH¢2,000, a gold-plated medal, and a plaque for their outstanding performance. Burma Camp Basic School secured GH¢1,000 for their second-place finish. Brigadier General M.O. Mantey, Director-General of NACOC, emphasized the need for sustained efforts in combating substance abuse among youth through education, awareness, and community engagement.

“

Prevention is not only about laws and regulations. Creativity and awareness can help young people make the right choices and stay away from drugs.

According to Mr. Solomon Stanley Eyo of NACOC, available statistics on substance abuse among students are concerning. A report indicated that 36.4 percent of surveyed junior and senior high school students had experimented with at least two substances. Cigarette smoking and cannabis use were more common among boys, while painkiller abuse and shisha smoking were prevalent among girls. Stress was identified as the primary driver of substance abuse, accounting for 88.6 percent of sampled cases.

Students engaging in drug abuse often experience poor academic performance, insomnia, and physical weakness. NACOC continues to implement demand reduction programs through public sensitization campaigns in schools, religious institutions, and marketplaces. The use of creative arts is highlighted as an effective approach, enabling young people to communicate anti-drug messages to their peers in an understandable language. Lt. Col. Sefa Boye, Headmaster of Forces Senior High Technical School, chaired the event and encouraged participants to use their talents to address societal challenges and promote positive values.

“

The use of creative arts was an effective approach because it enabled young people to communicate anti-drug messages to their peers in a language they understood.