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Story by, Paul Mensah Nsor
ACCRA - The CEO of RNAQ Holdings, Richard Nii Armah Quaye, has announced a 500,000 Ghana cedis donation to the Youth Ministry to support the government's fight against opioid abuse among young people.
Speaking at a youth ministry event, Quaye expressed deep concern about the growing threat of drug addiction, drawing from his experience as a multinational businessman operating across Africa. "I have seen what is happening in countries like Sierra Leone, where opioid abuse has mentally and physically impaired many young workers," he said.
As an employer of over 4,000 Ghanaian youth with an average age of 26, Quaye emphasized the economic importance of protecting the country's young population. "The youth of this country is our gold mine. The economic fortunes of our country depend on the youth," he stated.
The RNAQ Youth Foundation, which focuses on providing social justice to marginalized communities, has already established food banks in the Greater Accra region as part of its comprehensive approach to addressing root causes of drug abuse. The foundation plans to expand these food banks nationwide, targeting deprived communities where opioid abuse is most prevalent.
"When people are neglected, they may begin to seek comfort in drugs," Quaye explained, noting that the food banks aim to provide support and reduce pressures that might lead to substance abuse.
The donation represents the foundation's commitment to working hand-in-hand with the Youth Ministry to prevent what Quaye described as a potential "national catastrophe." The gesture symbolizes a unified effort where "red means stop" in the fight against opioid abuse.
According to Lawyer George Opare Addo Minister of Youth Empowerment and Development, "we cannot address a problem properly when you don't have a proper understanding of what the root cause is," Minister Addo explained. "We need to get to the root cause and understand what the numbers look like."
He said, the research will focus specifically on secondary and tertiary institutions, where rumors of widespread substance abuse persist. A credible research organization has been contracted to investigate conditions in schools, universities, and urban communities.
"There are a lot of rumors about most of our tertiary institutions, but we don't have the data to back it," the Minister noted, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence to develop effective interventions.
The RNAQ Foundation, headed by businessman Richard Nyamakwe, was praised for its broader youth development initiatives, including support for entrepreneurs and food bank programs serving deprived communities. The Ministry plans to integrate the foundation into its national entrepreneurship and innovation program.
Lawyer Addo issued an urgent appeal to all Ghanaians to join the anti-drug fight, warning that the crisis threatens every family regardless of social status.
"You may be very comfortable living in your house with high walls protecting you, but you may have a son or daughter in school, and you don't know when it will strike close to home," he cautioned.
The Ministry is encouraging social media users to dedicate their platforms to drug abuse awareness rather than "unproductive content," while calling on businesses and philanthropists to support the initiative.
Additional youth programs planned for the month include health insurance registration drives and a potential youth carnival, subject to the country's security situation.