Minister proposes night curfew for minors to tackle drug abuse in Upper West
The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, has proposed the introduction of a night curfew for persons under 18 years as part of broader measures to combat rising drug abuse in the region.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in the Wa West District with the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, the District Chief Executive and other officials, the minister described drug abuse among the youth as a growing crisis that requires urgent and decisive intervention.
Mr Puozuing likened the menace to illegal mining (galamsey), warning that its social and economic consequences could be equally destructive if left unchecked.
He said a regional task force, inaugurated on 28 May 2025, has been working on a roadmap to rehabilitate users, disrupt supply chains and reduce the availability of illicit substances.
Among the measures under consideration is a curfew for minors under 18 years, during which police would detain those found outside between 10.00 p.m. and 1.00 a.m. until they are released to their parents or guardians.
The minister admitted the proposal might face pushback from human rights advocates but defended it as necessary to protect vulnerable children from falling deeper into drug dependency.
“We cannot allow a 12-year-old girl to be involved in prostitution or have children roaming the streets at night because of drug abuse,” he stressed, noting that many minors in the region are exposed to criminal activity and health risks after dark.
The minister also revealed that security agencies are tracking individuals engaged in the wholesale and retail trade of narcotics, as well as monitoring transportation routes used to bring drugs into the Upper West Region. He said dismantling these networks is essential to curbing the problem.
The MP for Wa West backed the minister’s call for urgent action on drug abuse and also highlighted the need to address critical development deficits in Wa West District.
He urged the government to complete an abandoned dormitory block at Dorimon to expand access to secondary education and proposed the establishment of a new second-cycle institution in the district’s eastern corridor.
Mr Toobu further appealed for government adoption and support of a community-built Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institute to provide alternative skills and livelihood opportunities for the youth.
According to him, education and vocational training must be part of the long-term strategy to reduce drug abuse by offering young people productive paths.
