News

In a bid to strengthen the moral and psychological well-being of troops, the Chaplain for Headquarters Southern Command, Rev Lt Col Francis Obodai Lokko, has taken steps to sensitise soldiers on the dangers of drug and substance abuse during Padre hour on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, at the Command Headquarters, Kpeshie Ridge Teshie.The sensitization drive forms part of a broader initiative by the Ghana Armed Forces' Department of Religious Affairs, which has set aside the month of August to conduct a comprehensive campaign against the misuse and abuse of drugs among military personnel. Rev Lt Col Lokko indicated that in a military profession, which demands clear judgement, physical fitness and spiritual grounding, drug and substance abuse becomes a strategic liability and a national security concern. He stressed that drug abuse not only endangers individual lives but also weakens the operational effectiveness and reputation of the armed forces.The Chaplain highlighted common forms of abuse, including excessive alcohol consumption, misuse of prescription drugs, and the use of illegal substances. He encouraged troops to seek help early if they were struggling with addiction or mental health issues, emphasizing that the military has systems in place to support rather than punish.

He mentioned that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and all forms of trauma resulting from operational fatigue, barracks culture and peer pressure, access to prescription drugs and stimulants, family separation and loneliness, as well as inadequate mental health and spiritual support are contributory factors to the tendency of drug abuse among troops.Rev Lt Col Lokko, however, encouraged troops to report any drug and substance abuse-related challenges promptly to their immediate commanders. This he said, would ensure the provision of the  necessary professional assistance to safeguard the integrity of the individual as well as the Ghana Armed Forces as a whole.