According to ghana news agency: 'The Fight Against Drug Abuse: The Role of Traditional Authorities'. President Mahama said: 'Drug abuse is an enemy to progress. It destroys families, robs our youth of potential, fuels crime, and undermines the moral fibre of society.' He emphasised that the fight against drug abuse could not be left to the government alone and that traditional leaders, who remain custodians of culture and conscience, had a pivotal role to play in checking drug abuse.
He urged traditional leaders to intensify community sensitisation, enforce community by-laws, and provide mentorship and guidance on the dangers and destructive habits of drug abuse. The President reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening law enforcement to dismantle drug syndicates and prosecute offenders, as well as expanding rehabilitation and counselling services to restore victims of addiction into productive citizens.
He expressed dedication to creating a 24-Hour Economy, industrial parks, and youth entrepreneurship support, to take young people away from idleness and despair. President Mahama assured the chiefs and people of the region of deepening civic engagement through regional task forces such as the Upper West Regional Anti-Drug Abuse Taskforce, ensuring that the communities themselves drive the fight.
Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, said: 'As you celebrate, let's be happy and unite, knowing that Dumba Festival is one of the important festivals in Ghana that is celebrated to pave way for us to unite in the region'. He mentioned statistics from the Upper West Region indicating that between 2018 and 2020, about 700 people had mental disorders due to drug abuse, while 2021 alone recorded 400 people with mental disorders.
He said the research conducted indicated the ratio of 77.6 per cent of the victims interviewed had abused tramadol while 83.9 per cent had taken other related drugs, with these groups being active populations aged between 15 to 45 years.
The Overlord of the Waala Traditional Council, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, expressed worry over drug abuse among the youth in the region and called for a holistic approach to halt the menace. The Wa Naa described the situation as an 'unfortunate menace' that mostly affects social, security, and development in the Upper West Region and called for collective efforts to combat it.
He noted that a majority of the promising youth involved in drug abuse, especially tramadol and marijuana, popularly known today as 'RED' in the region, stressed the need for collaboration to educate each other on the dangers of drug abuse. At the climax of the festival, the overlord successfully jumped over a laid-down cow, signifying a prosperous and successful year and a long reign ahead.
The celebration attracted eminent traditional leaders and opinion leaders from across the region, as well as politicians, diplomats, tourists, and members of the public. Dumba Festival is an annual festival celebrated by the chiefs and people of the Waa Traditional Area in the Upper West Region.