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Virgin Blogger Blog of Thursday, 26 June 2025
Source: Christopher A. Ranson
Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) joins the global calls as we mark the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme “The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention. Break the Cycle.
The year’s theme reinforces the urgent need for governments and stakeholders to shift from reactions to prevention. Across many regions including Ghana, organized networks expend drugs production and trafficking at an alarming rate, with new drug markets rapidly growing across Africa, Asia and Europe, with synthetic drugs which are highly potent opioids like nitazenes creating deadly new threats and placing pressure on already weak health systems.
In Ghana and across the region illicit drugs trade does not stand alone but linked with crimes such as human trafficking, illegal mining and environmental destruction. Together these crimes create a vicious cycles of poverty, exploitation, weak institutions and addiction that harm the future of our communities.
At VALD, we believe stopping drug trafficking requires long-term coordinated actions that address both supply and demand, prevent organized criminal groups from taking advantage of our vulnerabilities.
We call on:
1. Government to invest in prevention, justice, education, health care and alternative livelihoods
2. Policy makers to integrate prevention into national development plans and security responses
3. Civil society organizations to strengthen awareness, especially among the youth
4. All stakeholders to work together to break the cycle and stop organized crime
Statement from the Executive Director, Vision for Alternative Development (VALD):
“Investing in prevention is not just a smart choice, it is the most humane and effective way to tackle drug abuse and organized crimes. We have the evidence what we need now is political will and sustained actions. VALD stands ready to work with all partners to break the cycle and protect our communities”
Mr Issah Ali, Executive Director, Vision for Alternative Development (VALD)
We must act now on the evidence; we must invest in prevention. Together we can break the cycle.
Signed by:
Vision for Alternative Development (VALD)
Email: info@valdghana.org / issahwonder@gmail.com
Telephone: +233-(0) 24-405-7950 (0) 30-2936305/(0) 30-222-4217
Website:valdghana.org
Facebook: Vald Ghana
X: Vision4Dev
