Opioid Crisis Explodes in Ghana as Young People Fall Victim to ‘Red’

Ghana is confronting a rapidly escalating opioid crisis that is placing its young people at serious risk and threatening the country’s public health, social stability, and long-term economic development. Known locally as “Red,” these addictive substances are increasingly becoming the drug of choice for many young people who view them as a source of strength, relief, or social acceptance. What often begins as experimentation or a misguided attempt to cope with hardship quickly spirals into dependency, leaving individuals trapped in cycles of addiction and communities struggling to manage the consequences.

A Growing Crisis Among Ghana’s Youth

Across the country, the stories of young users reveal the depth of the crisis. Ekow Annan, a 20-year-old mason from the Western Region, turned to opioids believing they would help him cope with long hours of demanding physical labor. In Koforidua, Charles Manu recalls being persuaded by peers who assured him that the drugs would boost his stamina and sexual performance. He is now battling addiction and warns others not to follow the same path. These accounts highlight the intersection of misinformation, peer influence, and economic hardship that continues to drive opioid misuse among Ghana’s youth.

Medical experts confirm the devastating impact of this trend. Dr. Kwabena Ofori of the Presbyterian Hospital in Dormaa Ahenkro has observed that opioid abuse can trigger abnormal electrical activity in the brain, causing seizures, while also fueling mood disorders, anxiety, and depression. Prolonged use weakens concentration, memory, and decision-making capacity. The effects extend far beyond the individual, undermining family cohesion, disrupting education, and eroding the productivity of communities that depend on the energy and innovation of their young members.

Weak Regulation and Easy Access

The crisis has been magnified by Ghana’s regulatory weaknesses and porous borders. Although the law restricts opioids to licensed pharmacies and hospitals, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Informal sellers and over-the-counter medicine shops, which are only permitted to handle basic first-aid items, have increasingly infiltrated the opioid supply chain. Smuggling through ports and unapproved border points has made these substances more widely available, with devastating consequences.

The recent interception of opioids valued at 20 million cedis at Tema Harbour by the Ghana Revenue Authority illustrates both the scale of the trade and the challenges faced by regulators. While such seizures are encouraging, they expose the magnitude of trafficking networks and the limitations of enforcement. Dr. Richmond Adusa-Poku of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana has warned that unless enforcement and regulatory oversight are significantly strengthened, the country could face an epidemic capable of overwhelming its fragile health system.

Government Response and Community Action

The Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment has acknowledged the seriousness of the threat and launched the national campaign “Ghana Against Drugs – Red Means Stop.” This initiative aims to raise awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse while advocating for stronger regulation and enforcement. Minister George Opare Addo has emphasized that the fight cannot be won by government action alone, but requires collaboration with schools, families, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and the media to reshape attitudes and provide young people with alternatives to drug use.

Awareness campaigns are a vital start but must be supported by concrete interventions. Stronger border management, systematic monitoring of pharmacies, and consistent prosecution of traffickers are essential to disrupt supply. At the same time, the lack of affordable treatment and rehabilitation options remains a critical gap. Facilities are limited, highly stigmatized, and inaccessible to many of the young people who need them. A shift toward compassion and public health is required, ensuring that treatment services are expanded, integrated into community health systems, and accompanied by mental health care.

Lessons from the Global Opioid Crisis

Ghana’s experience mirrors challenges faced around the world. In the United States, prescription opioid misuse grew into a national epidemic over the last two decades, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. Easy access to painkillers, combined with aggressive marketing and inadequate regulation, triggered widespread dependence. The U.S. response has included stricter prescription monitoring, greater access to naloxone to reverse overdoses, and expanded funding for addiction treatment. While challenges remain, areas that have adopted comprehensive strategies have seen reductions in overdose deaths.

Canada’s opioid crisis, particularly the surge in fentanyl-related deaths, prompted a public health response centered on harm reduction. The introduction of supervised consumption sites, where individuals can use substances under medical supervision, has reduced fatalities while linking users to treatment and counseling. Large-scale education campaigns in schools and communities have also raised awareness before young people are exposed to experimentation.

Europe provides further lessons. Portugal’s bold decision in 2001 to decriminalize drug use and focus instead on treatment and prevention is often cited as a success. By investing in rehabilitation, prevention, and harm reduction rather than criminalization, the country witnessed a dramatic decline in drug-related deaths and HIV infections. The approach has been recognized globally as a model for balancing enforcement with health-centered care.

Closer to home, Nigeria has struggled with codeine syrup abuse, leading to government bans and national awareness campaigns. However, enforcement without parallel investment in treatment services left many addicted youth without support. Ghana can learn from this experience by ensuring that enforcement measures are always paired with accessible rehabilitation and youth empowerment programs.

The Path Forward for Ghana

Protecting young people from opioids requires a comprehensive approach that combines enforcement, prevention, treatment, and social investment. Regulatory oversight must be tightened to prevent unauthorized sales and to ensure that controlled substances remain confined to licensed facilities. Collaboration between customs, port authorities, and law enforcement must be strengthened to disrupt trafficking routes. Digital systems for monitoring prescriptions, adapted to Ghana’s context, could improve accountability across the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Education and prevention must be prioritized. Schools, churches, mosques, and youth organizations should play an active role in debunking myths about opioids, providing mentorship, and offering healthier ways for young people to cope with stress. Awareness campaigns should be continuous and designed to resonate with the lived realities of the youth, rather than relying solely on slogans.

Treatment and rehabilitation need to become more widely available, affordable, and community-based. Integrating counseling into primary health services, expanding rehabilitation centers beyond urban areas, and establishing national helplines would provide lifelines for those struggling with addiction. Partnerships with civil society and private organizations can extend the reach of these services to rural communities where the crisis is also spreading.

Addressing root causes is equally critical. Many young people turn to drugs because of unemployment, limited opportunities, and lack of safe recreational outlets. Expanding vocational training, entrepreneurship programs, and initiatives in sports and arts will create constructive alternatives. When young people see a future filled with opportunity and purpose, the appeal of opioids diminishes.

Safeguarding the Future

The spread of “Red” among Ghana’s youth is not merely a health emergency; it is a national development crisis that threatens to strip the country of its most valuable resource, its young people. Ghana still has a narrow window of opportunity to act decisively. By learning from global experiences, strengthening regulations, expanding treatment, investing in prevention, and creating opportunities for the youth, the nation can turn the tide against this threat.

Protecting young people from opioids is not only about saving lives in the present but also about ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders, innovators, and workers are able to realize their full potential. The fight against opioids must be urgent, united, and sustained, for at stake is nothing less than the future of the nation itself.

Source: RFI (Radio France Internationale)