Drug and substance abuse is increasingly becoming a major catalyst for youth violence across the country. There is an urgent need for the nation to address the growing concerns and challenges facing young people in order to curb the alarming rise in violent behavior among the youth.
The Municipal Chief Executive for the Kwahu West Assembly, Tamimu Alidu, emphasized this during an interview on Adekyee Mu Nsem, a morning show on Ahotor 92.3 FM, hosted by Citizen Kofi Owusu in Accra.
Mr. Alidu reiterated that, although the government has been taking several steps to address youth violence and drug-related crimes, a comprehensive national effort is needed to tackle the root causes of the problem. He stressed that the increasing rate of youth violence poses a significant threat to national security and must be treated as such.
Recent statistics highlight the severity of the issue. Studies indicate that about 55.7% of in-school adolescents in Ghana have experienced some form of interpersonal violence, with 38.2% involved in physical fights and 41.5% reporting physical attacks. Furthermore, a 2015 study revealed that 38% of young people had been physically attacked within the previous year, while 18.6% had been forced into sexual intercourse against their will. Factors such as bullying, injury, and alcohol abuse are closely linked to increased rates of youth violence.
In a related development, a violent altercation between two well-known figures in Nkawkaw—Phada Gaza and Kwashiga—has left one person dead and another critically injured.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the conflict began when a member of Kwashiga’s group allegedly went to Gaza’s ghetto to sell wee (marijuana). Gaza, upon discovering this, reportedly assaulted the young man. In response, Kwashiga confronted Gaza, questioning why he had beaten his associate. The argument quickly escalated into a deadly brawl.
Witnesses claim that the rivalry between the two men dates back to 2016, but it reached a violent climax during this recent confrontation. Gaza allegedly stabbed Kwashiga several times, though witnesses noted that the wounds were surprisingly shallow—sparking speculation about the use of juju (spiritual protection). Gaza then reportedly pulled out a pair of scissors and stabbed Kwashiga in the eye, leaving him in critical condition.
Kwashiga, however, managed to grab Gaza’s cutlass and inflicted a deep wound on him, leading to Gaza’s death. Sources confirm that Kwashiga is currently receiving treatment at Roman Hospital.