Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to urgently establish counselling centres in all educational institutions to address the increasing incidence of student violence.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, the Minister expressed concern over the growing involvement of young people in violent crimes, which he linked to rising substance abuse and mental health challenges.
“Crime is crime, and when people commit crime, the law must take its course,” Mr. Opare Addo stated. “But beyond punishment, we must tackle the root causes of these acts, particularly the surge in drug use and psychological distress among the youth.”
He emphasized the need for a balanced approach that combines law enforcement with preventive interventions, including education, counselling, and support services. He cited the Ministry’s new ‘Red Means Stop’ campaign as part of efforts to raise awareness and combat drug abuse among young people.
“One of the key drivers of youth violence is substance abuse,” he explained. “That is why we’ve launched the Red Means Stop campaign to educate and sensitize young people.”
The Minister made a strong appeal to the GES, urging it to set up mental health and counselling units across schools to help students manage personal and psychological challenges before they escalate.
“We are encouraging the Ghana Education Service to establish counselling centres in all their institutions because the challenges of the times require that young people are not only disciplined, but also understood and supported,” he added.
Mr. Opare Addo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a supportive environment for Ghana’s youth as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s reset agenda.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
