THE Navrongo Senior High School (NAVASCO), with its motto “Lux Borealis” or “Light of the North,” held its 8th speech and prize giving day (SPGD) co-sponsored by the 1984 year-group, on the theme: “Countering Drug Abuse: Measures and Strategies towards Effective Teaching and Learning for Building Ghana Human Capital” last Saturday.
The programme was well attended by old students, parents, chiefs (some being old students), students, and invited guests including District and Municipal Chief Executives and Heads of Senior High Schools and Upper East CHASS.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the School, Mr Augustine Ayirezang (former Regional Director of Education, Upper East Region) said the theme was timely and appropriate given the havoc and toll drugs are having on youth and urged students to reject the use of illicit drugs.
He appealed to the government through a Presidential Initiatives in Agriculture (PIA) to encourage all Senior High Schools in the country to establish farms which should be able to produce food crops, vegetables, and animals to supplement feeding, adding that it was also an opportunity for experiential learning and agricultural innovation.
He called on the government and Nabia (the old students association) to restore the school’s dam.
Representing the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, as the Special Guest of Honour, Dr Clement Apaak (the Deputy Minister of Education) lauded the school’s legacy of excellence and described the theme as timely and crucial to national development.
He warned that drug abuse among youth involved substances such as tramadol, codeine, marijuana, and shisha, which were destroying lives, eroding moral values, and threatening Ghana’s human resource base.
The Minister outlined key strategies for combating the menace as integrating drug awareness into school programmes, strengthening life-skills education, training teachers to detect early signs of abuse, and providing counselling rather than punishment.
He also encouraged mentorship by NABIA, parent engagement, and partnerships with community and government agencies such as NACOC.
The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting anti-drug initiatives, rehabilitation, and safe learning environments and called on NAVASCO to lead Ghana’s anti-drug campaign, uphold its values of discipline and excellence, and nurture a generation of healthy, skilled, and drug-free youth who will drive the nation’s prosperity.
In her report, the Headmistress of the school, Madam Mercy Babachuweh, stressed that this year’s celebration featured an exhibition by students from the Science, Home Economics, Visual Arts, and Agriculture Departments, highlighting creativity and innovation.
The Headmistress reported that the school had 144 teaching and 59 non-teaching staff, supported by 16 dedicated volunteers who have served between 2 and 18 years. The total student population stood at 2,023. Over the past five years, WASSCE results remained strong, with pass rates averaging over 84 per cent.
She thanked the government for completing four new girls’ dormitories which were commissioned and named in honour of notable contributors: the Late L. R. Abavana, Navro-Pio Pe Awoliba Adda, Madam Katumi Fuseini, and Madam Francisca Yizura, an honour to past leaders who shaped NAVASCO’s legacy.
Among the school’s recent achievements are top placements in basketball, regional and national cadet drills, essay competitions, and recognition in a national School Farm Competition.
Despite these successes, the Headmistress highlighted key challenges including inadequate staff accommodation, bat-infested dormitories, and a silted dam vital for dry season farming.
Speaking on behalf of the students, the school prefect Atambeogo Abraham Awinyangit urged students to reject drug abuse, describing it as a growing national threat that destroys lives and potentials.
While celebrating success, the Prefect outlined key challenges facing the school, including bat-infested dormitories, inadequate laboratory equipment, and insufficient classroom furniture, which impeded effective teaching and learning, and appealed to government, alumni, and stakeholders for urgent support to address these needs.
The President of the old students of NAVASCO (Nabia), who is also the Paramount Chief of Sakpe, Naa Alabira Ibrahim, thanked the co-sponsors of the SPGD, the 1983 year group, for sponsoring a lot of prizes for students, teaching and non-teaching staff and renovating the Masters Mess.
He appealed to students to study hard and excel because NAVASCO won’t allow exam cheating to take place in the school and will never allow any student to be involved in cheating.
The Chairman of the occasion was the Sangnerigu Naa, Naa Ambassador Yakubu Abdulai, also a Nabia. He emphasised that Ghana, particularly the Northern Regions, faces a grave threat from the trafficking and abuse of opioids and psychotropic substances such as tramadol and taafradol, which are destroying lives, undermining education, and endangering national security.
Citing a BBC documentary that exposed the trade in harmful substances in West Africa, he called for collective action by the state, traditional and religious leaders, civil society, and citizens to dismantle the drug trade.
He called for zero tolerance for drugs in schools, renewed commitment to discipline, and unity in safeguarding the nation, urging the students to build a drug-free life and uphold NAVASCO’s legacy of excellence, integrity, and leadership.
Dr Dennis B. Daliri, a Psychiatrist at the Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital in Bolgatanga, described substance abuse among the youth as a silent destroyer of society, warning that it threatens Africa’s greatest resource, its young population, which will make up 60 per cent of the continent by 2050.
Citing alarming trends, he revealed that substances such as tramadol, cannabis, alcohol, and codeine syrups were increasingly being abused by young people, leading to addiction, mental illness, and social decay.
Drawing from his experience at the Presbyterian Psychiatric Hospital in Bolgatanga, he noted that substance abuse is now the second leading cause of psychiatric cases, mainly among youth aged 18–25. He cited real-life examples including musicians Kiki Gyan, Okomfour Kwadee, Kwaw Kese, and Yaw Siki to illustrate how addiction destroys talent and potential.
Dr Daliri urged a united front in integrating drug education into school curricula, strengthening counselling services, involving parents and communities, enforcing laws, and promoting mental health through sports and creativity.
Fraternal messages were given by the Chairman of the Accra Branch of Old Tamascans’ Association (OTA), Mr Daniel Bukari, and the National Secretary of the Old Bawscan’s Association (BOSA), Mr Francis Awuni Akologo, and Old Ghanasco Students Association.
Awards were given to about 50 students and 17 teaching and non-teaching staff.
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