Ashaiman Chief wages war against opioid abuse “Wonim Red”

The Chief of Ashaiman, Nii Annan Adzor, on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, launched an all-out campaign to confront the alarming rise in opioid use within his jurisdiction, with particular focus on curbing the spread and addiction associated with a dangerous substance locally referred to as “Wonim Red”, while also addressing the broader menace of substance abuse in the municipality.

Through the Nii Annang Adzor Foundation (NAAF), the chief unveiled a transformative campaign float dubbed “Stop Red Before It Stops You” with vibrant participation, starting from the Ashaiman Presby Junction and weaving through several principal streets of the Ashaiman Municipality. The procession moved along Jericho Road, passed through Main Station, continued along Lebanon Zone, Valco Flat, Official Town, and Middle East, before heading toward areas like Zongo Laka and Night Market.

The float reached its final point of convergence and finalization at the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, where participants gathered for closing remarks, community engagement, and a renewed call to action in the fight against drug use. The route was strategically mapped out to engage residents across the length and breadth of Ashaiman, amplifying the message of drug abuse prevention through music, placards, community interaction, and public education.

The campaign was done in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Ashaiman Traditional Council, the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, the Ashaiman Education Directorate, the Ashaiman Police Command, and the Ashaiman Muslim Community. Also supporting the initiative were the Kaysens Group and the House of St. Francis Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre.

Condemn

Addressing the media at the municipal assembly, the chief condemned the increasing abuse of synthetic opioids among the youth in Ashaiman and neighbouring communities. He said “Wonim Red,” believed to be a variant of tramadol mixed with other psychoactive substances, had gained notoriety for its addictive nature and devastating impact on users’ physical and mental health.

Nii Annan Adzor described the situation as a “ticking time bomb,” warning that if urgent action is not taken, the future of many young people in the area will be jeopardised. “This poison called ‘Wonim Red’ is destroying our youth. We cannot sit idle while our future leaders waste away on the streets,” the chief stated.

He, therefore, stressed the need to step up surveillance at the country’s borders in order to prevent the smuggling of the drugs into the country.

He urged the entire society, comprising religious bodies, politicians, educational institutions, civil society organisations, among others, to wage a relentless war against the abuse of opioids by the youth.

Advocacy against Red

Nii Annang Adzor indicated: “We are advocating against ‘Red’ and all other harmful drugs within Ashaiman.Our schoolchildren are especially vulnerable, and with the Easter break approaching, we want to empower them to become ambassadors in this campaign. We believe the children can carry the message home to their parents and communities.”

He further urged influencers and social media users to lend their voices to the cause. “Ashaiman is a melting pot of cultures, hosting people from all over Ghana and West Africa. Over 40 languages are spoken here, making it a truly diverse and vibrant community. But if we don’t protect Ashaiman, who will? This campaign is a call to action—to defend our community and safeguard our future.”

The chief also stated: “All the ‘Abokyi’ who are carrying these harmful drugs and selling them without prescription, that is what is killing the youth. To the FDA, military personnel, and our security officers at the borders — we must ask ourselves, how are these drugs getting into Ghana and into Ashaiman? We are pleading with you. Ghana’s borders are too porous. Please, do something. Close all the bush roads so these drugs won’t get into our system.”

Clampdown

He continued: “Our pastors must go beyond the pulpit and bring the gospel into the streets by educating the youth. Our police command must help clamp down on this ‘Wonim Red’. We know of hotspot areas where these drugs are sold — places like Ashaiman Lebanon, Jericho, and the irrigation site, where there’s a retail centre for these substances. Please, deploy your men to storm those areas. At the Tsinai Agbe Electoral Area as well, the police must intensify their operations. We do not want these drugs in our system.”

He added that “It takes only one moment for a child to be introduced to drugs, and if we don’t act quickly, we may lose them forever. From here, the clergy and community leaders will take this message to the schools and neighborhoods. Leverage the Easter convention as an opportunity to organize a retreat aimed at advising and sensitizing the youth against the dangers of drug abuse.The fight against ‘Red’ must continue.”

Role of church

Apostle Prince Philip Amanor, Chairman of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Ashaiman Main Zone, and Area Head of the Apostolic Church-Ghana, pledged the support of the Christian community in the ongoing campaign to eradicate drug abuse in Ashaiman. He described the initiative as timely and necessary, stressing that Ashaiman’s rapid urbanization must not be derailed by the menace of substance abuse.

“I want to thank Nii Annan Adzor for this bold initiative. Ashaiman is a beautiful and fast-growing community. It holds so much promise, and that’s why people are trooping in from all over the country. But if we don’t take care, this drug problem will destroy the future and the beauty of Ashaiman,” he warned. He noted that the churches in the municipality including the GPCC and the Local Council of Churches were rallying behind the traditional authority to push back against what he called “a looming disaster.”

He recounted disturbing scenes of drug abuse affecting the youth, especially among the working-class population. “Sometimes you see young men sleeping while working. Others slump into their food while eating. It’s a zombie lifestyle — and that’s not how God created us,” he lamented.

Apostle Amanor attributed the crisis to peer pressure and social influences that initiate unsuspecting youth into drug abuse. He urged young people to be cautious about their associations and the kind of content they consume on social media, describing these as channels through which addiction often begins.

“Some of them were enticed or misled before being initiated. Many of these youth had strength and potential, but drugs are weakening them. I want to advise them: do not add anything to what God has already given you. Use your God-given energy and abilities to work. It is the Lord who blesses us — and that blessing doesn’t need additives,” he said.

Apostle Amanor affirmed that the campaign would not end with this event. He announced that churches under the GPCC umbrella would integrate anti-drug messages into their youth programs, including during the upcoming Easter conventions.

“This is now our collective business. From here, we, the pastors and members of the GPCC, are taking this personally. We will educate our youth, hold special meetings, and make sure that during this Easter convention, addressing this menace will be a central focus. We will not sit back and watch our future waste away,” he stressed.

Stay away

The Director of Education for the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly, Clifford Henaku Budu, advised the youth to stay away from any substance which, when taken, can modify perception, mood and cognitive behaviour. The use of such substances, he said, could have serious effects on their mental health and wellbeing.

“Drug abuse and addiction has put the health of victims in danger. It has caused financial, emotional, social and other serious problems in society. Many violent crimes and deviant behaviour in society are known to have been caused by especially the abuse of hard drugs,” he stated.

He assured that the directorate would continue to use their platforms to highlight the dangers of drug abuse and addiction in the country. He expressed hope that the media at large would also take up the fight to help build a safer and more secure society for all.