The Richard Nii Armah Quaye (RNAQ) Foundation has donated an amount of GH₵500,000 to the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment to support its national campaign, “Ghana Against Drugs – Red Means Stop.”
The donation was done during a meeting with the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare Addo, on Tuesday, August 12, at the ministry’s headquarters.
The funding is to be used to combat opioid abuse among young people and conduct research into its root causes.
Founder and chairperson of the RNAQ Foundation, Richard Nii Armah Quaye expressed the reason for the donation, saying “We have come here to do a presentation of 500,000 Ghana cedis, to show our commitment and everyday support to the ministry against the fight of opioid abuse.”
Richard Nii Armah Quaye further said the gesture was part of his organisation’s commitment to safeguarding the future of Ghana’s youth.
“The youth are important to me, and I will do everything to ensure their future is secured. If we don’t step in now, we risk losing a generation,” he said.
Richard Nii Armah Quaye reaffirmed the foundation’s mission to support vulnerable communities and promote youth development, warning that neglect often drives people into substance abuse.
“When people are neglected, they begin to seek comfort in drugs. In most deprived communities, this menace is very predominant,” he stated.
To help address this, he said the RNAQ foundation has set up free food banks in the Greater Accra Region, with more plans to expand nationwide.
Youth Development and Empowerment Minister George Opare Addo commended the support, describing it as timely and impactful.
“This contribution will go a long way in deepening our nationwide sensitisation and outreach efforts. It’s proof that when the government and private sector collaborate, we achieve greater impact,” he said.
The minister also shared that the donation from the RNAQ Foundation would be used to fund this research in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and deprived communities, with the help of a credible research organization.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment launched the Ghana Against Drugs – Red Means Stop campaign, a youth focused initiative aimed at curbing the growing problem of substance abuse, particularly opioid use, among young people.
