Ghana's NACOC partners with influencer to curb youth drug use, cites 6,000 security applicant failures

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Ghana has formalised a partnership with prominent digital content creator Zion Felix to launch a nationwide drug‑free lifestyle campaign aimed at young Ghanaians. Deputy Director‑General Alexander Twum‑Barimah highlighted the influencer’s reach as a tool for delivering public‑health messaging and urged stronger collaborations between government agencies and media personalities.

Separately, NACOC disclosed that more than 6,000 applicants for Ghana’s security services failed mandatory drug screenings, testing positive for cocaine, heroin, cannabis, opioids and methamphetamine. Twum‑Barimah noted that cocaine and heroin are imported, cannabis is locally produced, and methamphetamine is linked to international trafficking networks, though there is no confirmed evidence of local production.