Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has alleged that the youth who were engaged in the clashes between some Zongo youth and Asante youth at Ahwiaa in the Kwabre East Municipality of the Ashanti Region, were influenced by the use of tramadol.
According to the Minister, the youth who no longer have access to hard drugs like ‘wee’ and cocaine have now alternated to the use of tramadol, a situation that negatively affects their thinking abilities.
He therefore called on the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) to have a second look at the product and consider its ban.
On Monday, 19 March 2018, one person was killed in the renewed clashes in the area.
The deceased, whose name was only given as Musah, 24; died in the course of the melee, assembly member for Ahwiaa, Mr Brenya K. Vasco told Adehye FM’s Elisha Adarkwah.
Speaking on this development in an interview on Tuesday, 20 March 2018, Mr Osei-Mensah said: “The Regional Security Council will take over investigations into the situation from the Municipal Security Council. The perpetrators of this mayhem will be brought to book.”
He added: “Mostly the youth engage in this mayhem because they are under the influence of drugs. Most of them smoke wee and other hard drugs and have now added the use of tramadol and that is causing this problem.
“We’ll have a meeting with the FDA and put this issue before them to see how they can deal with the tramadol on the market by way of banning it if need be.”
