BY Daniel Bampoe
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Suhum, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, has stepped up his war on opioid and substance abuse, taking his sensitisation drive to Akorabo, a community in the Municipality.
On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the MP, led a delegation of health experts and members of the Committee on Opioid and Substance Abuse to meet various stakeholders in the Akorabo Zone.
The campaign began with a courtesy call on the chiefs and elders, after which the team engaged opinion leaders, clergy, Muslim leaders, artisans, driver unions, and okada riders in an open discussion about the rising menace of substance abuse.
Frank Asiedu Bekoe explained that his decision to personally spearhead the initiative was driven by disturbing reports from the Suhum Government Hospital, where doctors have been recording increasing cases of youth addicted to opioids and other hard drugs.
He described the trend as a looming crisis that could destroy families, derail education, and endanger the community’s future workforce if left unchecked.
“Substance abuse is no longer a distant problem. It is here with us, affecting our youth, breaking homes, and threatening our collective future,” the MP told participants.
He called for a united front, stressing that combating drug abuse required not just government policy but also grassroots involvement.
Health professionals who accompanied him delivered presentations on the psychological, social, and health impacts of opioid use, highlighting how addiction leads to unemployment, broken families, mental health disorders, and in some cases, premature death.
The initiative drew strong support from community leaders. Chiefs, clergy, and transport unions praised the MP for what they described as a bold and much-needed intervention. Many pledged to partner the committee by creating awareness in churches, mosques, markets, and transport stations.
Stakeholders also commended Asiedu Bekoe for his accessibility and commitment, noting that the fight against drugs required consistent community engagement rather than one-off events.
The Akorabo campaign is part of a wider sensitisation programme that the Suhum MP has rolled out across the constituency, aimed at empowering communities to protect the youth from drug abuse and its associated dangers.
