The Upper West Regional Minister, Charles Lwanga Puozuing, has proposed the introduction of a night curfew for persons under 18 years as part of sweeping measures to combat rising drug abuse in the region.
The Minister made the proposal during a meeting with the Member of Parliament for Wa West, the District Chief Executive, and other stakeholders from the Wa West District.
The Upper West Regional Minister and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, have jointly called for decisive measures to tackle drug abuse among the youth while addressing critical development needs in Wa West District.
The Regional Minister likened the threat of drug abuse to that of illegal mining (“galamsey”) and described it as a crisis that demands urgent intervention. He revealed that a task force, inaugurated on May 28, 2025, has been working on a roadmap to rehabilitate drug users and cut off supply lines in the region.
Among the measures under consideration is a night curfew for minors under 18, during which police would detain those found outside between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. until their parents or guardians arrive.
The Minister acknowledged that the policy could draw criticism from human rights advocates but insisted it was necessary to uproot the problem.
“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
The Minister also noted that authorities are tracking individuals involved in the wholesale and retail of illicit substances and working to stop their transportation into the region.
On his part, MP Peter Lanchene Toobu appealed for the completion of an abandoned dormitory block at Dorimon to expand access to secondary education, the creation of a new second-cycle institution in the district’s eastern corridor, and government adoption of a community-built Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institute.
He also urged the government to prioritise critical roads, including the Wa–Dorimon–Wechiau–Ga road, and to address the district’s electricity coverage, which he lamented remains below 40% compared to the national average of 90%.
Hon Peter Lanchene Toobu urged that coordinated action, government commitment, and community involvement are essential to reversing the district’s challenges and ensuring a safer, more prosperous future for its youth.
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