The Rehabilitation Centre will consolidate efforts by LOAD-Ghana to fight the abuse of alcohol and drugs, especially among the youth in the Upper East Region and beyond.

Mr Abaa said the Centre was very important to helping those addicted to alcohol and hard drugs, such as tramadol, to reform.

Mr Abaa said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Wednesday and indicated that the Centre would house 40 patients at a time.

“This will ensure that inmates receive the best of care to help them overcome their addiction,” he said.“Every addiction case is unique and, therefore, important to keep the number moderate to understand each underlying reason for the addiction”.

He added that the lack of education on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse contributed largely to the rate of addiction and that it was imperative for the Ghana Education Service to include alcohol and drug education in its curricula to educate the youth on the dangers of those abuses.

Mr Abaa further proposed that government and employers should develop comprehensive policies of rehabilitating employees who have issues with addiction and avoid laying them off, which results in their death due to frustration.

He said such employees, when rehabilitated, could contribute significantly to the growth of the organisation.He called on the municipal and district assemblies as well as benevolent individuals and organsations to support the facility to fund its programmes to reduce the cost of rehabilitation.

Mr Abaa said: “The fight against alcohol and drugs is a collective responsibility and so all stakeholders such as parents, community leaders and government agencies must all get involved to respond against this menace that threatens to destroy the peaceful development of societies and communities.”

LOAD-Ghana is based in the Upper East Region and works towards achieving a drug-free society to enable all people to realise their God given talents, potentials and purpose in life and contribute meaningfully towards development.