Ashaiman chief wages war against “Wonim Red” opioid abuse
The Ashaiman anti-opioid march moved along Jericho Road, on to Main Station and carried on through Lebanon Zone, Valco Flats, Official Town and Middle East
The chief of Ashaiman, Nii Annang Adzor, launched an all-out campaign on Wednesday (16 April) to tackle the alarming rise in opioid use in the area, with a particular focus on curbing the spread of a dangerous substance, commonly known in Ghana as “Wonim Red”, and the addiction associated with it.
The campaign also addresses the broader menace of substance abuse in the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly area.
With the support of his Nii Annang Adzor Foundation (NAAF), the chief unveiled a transformative campaign float under the slogan “Stop Red Before It Stops You”. The campaign launch attracted vibrant participation by members of the community.
The anti-opioid march set off from Ashaiman Presby Junction and wove through many principal streets of the municipality.
The marchers moved along Jericho Road, passed through Main Station, carried on through Lebanon Zone, Valco Flats, Official Town and Middle East, and then headed towards areas such as Zongo Laka and Night Market.
The float reached the final point of convergence for the march at the offices of Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, where participants gathered for closing remarks, community engagement and a renewed call to action in the fight against drug use.
The route was mapped out strategically to make contact with residents the length and breadth of Ashaiman, amplifying the message of drug abuse prevention with music, placards, community interaction and public education.
The campaign was organised in collaboration with a broad range of organisations and interest groups, including the Ashaiman Traditional Council, Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, the Ashaiman Education Directorate, the Ashaiman Police Command and the local Muslim community.
Also supporting the initiative were the Kaysens Group and the House of St Francis Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre.
Condemn
Addressing the media at the municipal assembly offices, the chief condemned the fast-rising abuse of synthetic opioids by the youth in Ashaiman and neighbouring areas.
He described how “Wonim Red”, which is believed to be a variant of tramadol mixed with other psychoactive substances, has gained notoriety for its addictive nature and devastating impact on users’ physical and mental health.
Nii Annang Adzor described the situation as a “ticking time bomb”, warning that if urgent action is not taken, the future of many young people in the area will be jeopardised.
“This poison called ‘Wonim Red’ is destroying our youth,” the chief said. “We cannot sit idle while our future leaders waste away on the streets.”
He stressed the need to step up surveillance along Ghana’s borders in order to prevent the smuggling of the drugs into the country.
He also urged the whole of Ghanaian society, including religious bodies, politicians, educational institutions and civil society organisations, to wage a relentless war against the abuse of opioids by the youth.
Advocacy against Red
“We are advocating against ‘Red’ and all other harmful drugs within Ashaiman,” Nii Annang Adzor announced.
“Our schoolchildren are especially vulnerable, and with the Easter break approaching, we want to empower them to become ambassadors in this campaign.
“We believe the children can carry the message home to their parents and communities.”
He further urged influencers and social media users to lend their voice to the cause. “Ashaiman is a melting pot of cultures, hosting people from all over Ghana and West Africa,” he said. “Over 40 languages are spoken here, making it a truly diverse and vibrant community.
“But if we don’t protect Ashaiman, who will? This campaign is a call to action – to defend our community and safeguard our future.”
The chief also said: “All the ‘Abokyi’ who are carrying these harmful drugs and selling them without prescription, that is what is killing the youth.
“To the FDA [Food and Drugs Authority], military personnel and our security officers at the borders – we must ask ourselves, ‘How are these drugs getting into Ghana and into Ashaiman?’ We are pleading with you. Ghana’s borders are too porous.
“Please, do something. Close all the bush roads so these drugs won’t get into our system.”
Clampdown
He continued: “Our pastors must go beyond the pulpit and bring the gospel into the streets by educating the youth. Our police command must help clamp down on this ‘Wonim Red’.
“We know of hot-spot areas where these drugs are sold – places like Ashaiman Lebanon, Jericho and the irrigation site, where there’s a retail centre for these substances.
“Please, deploy your men to storm those areas. In the Tsinai Agbe Electoral Area as well, the police must intensify their operations. We do not want these drugs in our system.”
He added: “It takes only one moment for a child to be introduced to drugs, and if we don’t act quickly, we may lose them for ever.
“From here, the clergy and community leaders will take this message to the schools and neighbourhoods. Leverage the Easter convention as an opportunity to organise a retreat aimed at advising and sensitising the youth against the dangers of drug abuse.
“The fight against ‘Red’ must continue.”
Role of the church
The chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) Ashaiman Main Zone, Apostle Prince Philip Amanor, who is also the area head for the Apostolic Church-Ghana, pledged the support of the Christian community for the campaign to eradicate drug abuse in Ashaiman.
He described the initiative as timely and necessary, stressing that Ashaiman’s rapid urbanisation must not be derailed by the scourge of substance abuse.
“I want to thank Nii Annang Adzor for this bold initiative. Ashaiman is a beautiful and fast-growing community. It holds so much promise, and that’s why people are trooping in from all over the country.
“But if we don’t take care, this drug problem will destroy the future and the beauty of Ashaiman,” he warned. He noted that churches in the municipality, including the GPCC and the Local Council of Churches, were rallying behind the traditional authority to forestall what he called “a looming disaster”.
He recounted disturbing scenes of drug abuse affecting young people locally, especially in the working-class population. “Sometimes you see young men sleeping while working,” he said. “Others slump into their food while eating.
“It’s a zombie lifestyle – and that’s not how God created us,” he lamented.
Apostle Amanor attributed the crisis to peer pressure and social influences that initiate unsuspecting youngsters into drug abuse. He urged young people to be cautious about whom they associate with and about the kinds of content they consume on social media, describing these as the channels through which addiction often begins.
“Some of them were enticed or misled before being initiated. Many of these youth had strength and potential, but drugs are weakening them.
“I want to advise them: do not add anything to what God has already given you. Use your God-given energy and abilities to work.
“It is the Lord who blesses us – and that blessing doesn’t need additives,” he said.
Apostle Amanor affirmed that the campaign would not end with the procession. He announced that churches under the GPCC umbrella would integrate anti-drug messages into their own youth-focused events, including activities during the upcoming Easter conventions.
“This is now our collective business. From here, we, the pastors and members of the GPCC, are taking this personally.
“We will educate our youth, hold special meetings and make sure that during this Easter convention, addressing this menace will be a central focus.
“We will not sit back and watch our future waste away,” he pledged.
Stay away
The director of education for Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Clifford Henaku Budu, advised the youth to stay away from any substance which can modify perception, mood and cognitive behaviour.
The use of such substances, he said, could have grave effects on their mental health and well-being.
“Drug abuse and addiction has put the health of victims in danger. Budu said. “It has caused financial, emotional, social and other serious problems in society.
“Many violent crimes and deviant behaviour in society are known to have been caused by [addiction, and] especially the abuse of hard drugs,” he declared.
Budu offered his assurance that the directorate will continue to use the channels under its control to highlight the dangers of drug abuse and addiction in Ghana.
He expressed the hope that the media at large will also take up the fight to help build a safer, more secure society for all.
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