The Ministry of Education has called on teachers and school authorities across the country to heighten surveillance and monitoring of students amid growing concerns over the infiltration of drug networks into basic and second-cycle institutions.

The call follows recent intelligence gathered by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), which indicates that drug-related activities are increasingly being detected within schools, signalling a shift from traditional street-level distribution to educational environments.

Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News, Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, expressed concern over the rising abuse of opioids and tramadol among young people, describing the trend as part of a broader national and global challenge that demands urgent action.

According to him, the government is working closely with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service to strengthen preventive measures and monitoring systems in schools.

Dr Apaak noted that teachers play a critical frontline role in identifying suspicious behaviour among students and preventing drug-related activities from taking root on school campuses.

He therefore encouraged teachers and school authorities to conduct routine inspections of students’ belongings where necessary, as part of efforts to maintain discipline and ensure safety within educational institutions.

“Through the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana TVET Service, we are urging teachers to remain vigilant and closely monitor the conduct of learners. Where necessary, they should search students’ bags,” he stated.

He further recalled that the government had empowered heads of secondary schools to carry out searches of luggage, trunks, chop boxes and other personal belongings brought onto campus as part of broader efforts to restore discipline in schools.

Dr Apaak stressed that tackling the growing threat of drug abuse and trafficking in educational institutions requires a coordinated approach involving teachers, parents, school administrators, security agencies and the wider community.

He maintained that only a collective effort can effectively protect students from the dangers of substance abuse and preserve the integrity of Ghana’s educational system.