Accra: The National Commission on Culture (NCC), Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), and musician King Jerry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a nationwide campaign against youth drug abuse. The initiative, dubbed the ‘Stop the Red’ campaign, aims to discourage the use of the substance popularly known as ‘Red’ among Ghanaian youth.

According to Ghana News Agency, the campaign is led by King Jerry and seeks to raise awareness about the harmful effects of the drug while promoting cultural integrity and the well-being of future generations. Mr. Wakefield Ackuaku, Executive Director of NCC, said the Commission welcomed the initiative as part of its mandate to protect Ghana’s cultural values. He emphasized the importance of the campaign and stated that progress reports would be generated and shared with stakeholders, including the GTA, ensuring all parties, including King Jerry, are held accountable to the terms of the agreement.

Mr. Ekow Sampson, Deputy CEO of GTA, pledged full support for the campaign, highlighting the role of cultural identity in Ghana’s tourism and the need to protect the youth. He expressed concern about the influence of ‘Red’ on young people and reaffirmed GTA’s commitment to the campaign’s success.

King Jerry expressed gratitude to the NCC and GTA for backing his vision. He noted the devastating effect the substance is having on the youth and the need to use his platform to create awareness. He emphasized the importance of collaborating with the NCC and GTA to broaden the reach of the campaign nationwide and called on Ghanaians to support the initiative.

The ‘Stop the Red’ campaign will be rolled out in phases nationwide, focusing on education, community outreach, and stakeholder engagement.