The International Prison Chaplains Association (IPCA-Ghana) has charged Senior High School (SHS) students across the country to stay away from their mates who can influence them negatively to use illicit drugs, thereby destroying their lives.
They said apart from the destruction of their lives, the use of illicit drugs could result in them going to prison.
“We emphasise on you staying away from illicit drugs that can lead you to prison easily because it can influence you to engage in wrong activities.
Caution
“We also caution you to avoid violent demonstrations in schools because that will lead to the destruction of public and private property, and once you destroy property it means you are positioning yourself to be arrested, taken to court and eventually to prison,” the Chairman of IPCA Ghana, Rev. Steve Mensah, said at the Anti-Crime Talk at the Odorgonno SHS in Accra last Tuesday.
Similar events have been held in other second cycle schools, including the Ada Senior High Technical School, OLAM SHS, Accra Girls SHS, St Augustine's College and Mfantsipim School.
Concern
Rev. Mensah also raised concern about students engaging in cyber crime, which was now in vogue among them.
“We also emphasise that you should keep away from cyber crime. They should not go on the internet and do anything that can land them into prison.
“We need you the students because you have to be fruitful for society. You need to be cautioned so that they don’t find themselves on the wrong side of the law,” he emphasised.
Rev. Mensah said the crime rate among young people was becoming higher than in the past years hence the need for them to desist from engaging in such acts.
A member of IPCA, Rev. Emmanuel Kanga, said having realised that many young people were in prison following the association’s visits, it was imperative to reach out to them in the schools and other places to caution them against engaging in acts that could lead them there.
Prison
“We can’t wait for you to go to prison before we come and visit you there'
Rev. Kanga cautioned them not to do anything that could send them to police cells, court or prison.
Rev. Richard Nyarko shared a personal story about how he got involved in the use of drugs, ended up in prison and gave his life to Christ.
Experiment
He advised the students never to experiment with drugs since it would not help them in anyway.
“Prison is not a good place so don’t do anything that can send you there,” he said.
Another member of IPCA, Rev. Kwaku Essibrey Annan, who spoke on 'How to Maintain a Good Character Whilst in School' said that involved several vital practices such as setting a clear goal.
He advised the students to stay focused and imbibe good traits including honesty, respect, responsibility and kindness.
For his part, Mr Akumfi-Buanya, a leading Member of IPCA, cautioned the students that no matter “how influential your parents may be when you fall foul pf the law you cannot escape.”
A member of IPCA and a counsellor, Gloria Cann, who advised the students said they should not feel too big to take advice and charged them overall, to be God fearing.
The Assistant Headmaster, Domestic of the Odorgonno SHS, Richard Akon, said the sensitization programme had been impactful and awakened them.
Other leading Members of IPCA present included Dr Mrs Angela Tena Mensah who is also a retired Director of Education and co-ordinates the IPCA Anti -Crime Talks.
Other leading IPCA GHANA Members present included Deacones Dr Mrs Angela Mensah who is also a retired director of education.
