{
  "id": 17956824,
  "title": "Ghana risks losing a generation to drug abuse – Afenyo-Markin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/03/ghana-risks-losing-a-generation-to-drug-abuse-afenyo-markin",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-03T11:47:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-risks-losing-a-generation-to-drug-abuse-afenyo-markin/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has warned Ghana risks losing a generation to drug abuse, urging urgent action to address the impact of narcotics trafficking on communities. Recent international drug seizures, including 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in plastic waste shipped from Ghana, highlight the threat narcotics pose to young people's health, families, productivity, and the country's future. Speaking before Parliament's reopening, Afenyo-Markin emphasized that drug trafficking endangers more than national security and Ghana's diplomatic image, as it undermines healthcare and social welfare systems. He stressed that combating drug abuse is a collective national duty and called for accountability from agencies responsible for public protection. The Minority Leader called for parliamentary oversight to identify institutional weaknesses that may have facilitated drug trafficking, arguing that this aligns with Parliament's constitutional role. The Minority is seeking a parliamentary inquiry into these issues, which will examine the performance of public institutions and drug enforcement systems, without interfering in ongoing criminal cases.",
  "summary": "Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has warned that Ghana risks losing a generation of young people to drug abuse, calling for urgent action to address the effects of narcotics trafficking on communities. He said the proliferation of illicit drugs threatens the health and future of young people, destroys families and undermines national productivity. Speaking at a press briefing ahead of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}