He said the use of hard drugs among the youth had reached alarming levels and required a concerted effort from all sectors of society, including religious institutions.

Mr Ameko made the call when he addressed the youth wing of the Adaklu Sofa Branch of the Salvation Army after they undertook a weeding and clean-up exercise at the premises of the Adaklu District Assembly at Adaklu Waya.

The exercise formed part of the Church’s Youth Week celebration, held on the theme: “Walking in the Light.”

Mr Ameko, who is also the Dean of the Volta Regional Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), urged the Church to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to “weed out the canker from society.”

He further appealed to religious organisations to support efforts to rehabilitate people addicted to drugs within their communities.

The DCE said government’s youth-centred programmes and policies would not achieve their intended objectives if the youth, who were the main beneficiaries, became victims of drug abuse.

He therefore advised the youth to stay away from drugs and other mind-altering substances to secure a productive and meaningful future.

Mr Ameko warned that drug abuse could have serious effects on the mental wellbeing of users and reminded the youth that the laws of the country prohibited the use of certain drugs.

“The use of these drugs will prevent you from reaching your ambitions because there is nothing good in them,” he said.

The DCE also appealed to parents to take a keen interest in the company their children and wards kept, stressing the importance of positive peer influence in shaping the future of young people.

He commended the youth of the Salvation Army for their commitment to community service and encouraged them to sustain such initiatives.

“I highly recommend you organise such vital exercises,” he said.

Mr Ameko further appealed to other religious groups and voluntary organisations to emulate the example of the Salvation Army youth by organising regular clean-up exercises and other activities that would contribute to keeping the district clean.