The Paramount Chief of the Damongo Traditional Council, Damongowura Kelly Seidu Boresa I, has backed Mufti Habib Borejinkpr’s advocacy for a rehabilitation center in the Savannah Region and strongly advised the youth of Damongo and Gonjaland to refrain from illicit drugs, warning of the severe health and social risks associated with drug abuse.
Speaking during a street campaign against drug abuse in Damongo, the Damongowura made it clear that traditional authority would not interfere with the law.
“No one will secure the release of anyone caught using illicit drugs,” he cautioned.
The campaign formed part of activities of the 2025 Dingoro Streets Movement Fest, which brought together over 500 participants from across the Savannah Region.
Accompanied by the group, the Paramount Chief visited known ghettos, pharmacies and drug stores in Damongo, appealing to operators to desist from the sale of hard drugs as a way of curbing substance abuse in the region.
Coordinator of the Dingoro Streets Movement Fest, Muftaw Habibu, called for the establishment of a rehabilitation centre to support young people already battling addiction.
As part of the social impact activities, organizers presented citations and support to two popular Damongo-based food vendors Amariya Banku and Mma Hawawu Aqui in recognition of their long standing generosity in feeding street youth regardless of the amount they could afford. The vendors expressed gratitude to the organizers for the gesture.
The outreach also extended to the Redemption Children’s Home, where inmates were treated to a meal and entertained with musical performances by participants of the Dingoro Fest.
Participants at the 2025 Dingoro Festival converged on Damongo, the Savannah Regional capital, from all parts of Ghana, with the full backing of the Gonjaland Youth Association, turning the event into a powerful national gathering of culture, advocacy and reflection.
Beyond the colourful display of tradition, the festival served as a strong platform to address the growing menace of illicit drug use, especially among the youth. Speakers and youth leaders highlighted how drug abuse is tearing families apart, destroying promising futures, and fuelling crime, unemployment, and mental health challenges in many communities.
They warned that what often begins as experimentation can quickly lead to addiction, loss of dignity, and in some cases, death.
Participants called for collective action, urging parents, traditional authorities, religious leaders, and the state to intensify education, prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
The gathering stressed that safeguarding the youth from illicit drugs is not just a social responsibility but a critical investment in the future of Gonjaland and the nation at large.
Meanwhile, Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe, reiterated government’s commitment to fighting drug abuse, vowing a clampdown on outlets involved in the sale of illicit drugs. He stressed that arrests and prosecutions would continue.
In a related development, the Savannah Regional Police Command has arrested 27 individuals, including women, for alleged drug-related offences during a special security operation conducted over the Christmas festivities.
The operation, aimed at enhancing public safety, was carried out in Salaga, Damongo, Buipe and Bole. In a statement issued on December 26 and shared on the official Facebook page of the Ghana Police Service, police said the suspects were found in possession of narcotic substances, including dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp.
The suspects are currently in police custody assisting with investigations and will be processed in accordance with the law.
