Addy urges media to help fight drugs

Accra (Greater Accra), 30^th June 99 -

Professor Patrick Addy, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, on Tuesday urged the mass media to play a leading role in educating the public about drug abuse which has now assumed international dimensions.

Prof. Addy was speaking at the launch of "The African anti-drug programme" (AADP) which involves the 16 ECOWAS countries developing their own drug prevention campaign strategies in consonance with their drug control policies.

The AADP has suggested the use of colts soccer competitions, dubbed the "African Cup for Youth against drugs", to mobilise the largest possible number of African Youths to be lectured about drug abuse.

Prof. Addy said he envisages that this year teams from eight countries including Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde and Cote d'Ivoire would each select a national colts team to take part in the competition.

The membership of the team should be youth born between 1984 and 1985.

Proceeds from these matches would be used to assist participating countries to wage war against the misuse and abuse of drugs and drug trafficking.

Professor Addy said Ghana would select the national colts team to represent the country in the finals of the international tournament scheduled for Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, from December 13 to 22 this year.

He said colts teams would be camped at Koforidua and Sunyani where resource persons from the Narcotics Control Board and the Ministry of Youth and Sports would interact with then and educate them on the harmful effects of drugs.

The educational campaign will take the form of lectures, seminars and film shows.

Prof. Addy announced that to crown the "African Cup for Youth Against Drugs", a selection of Africa's best footballers will be invited to play fund-raising matches. They will be known as the Black Stars International

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