Volta Region Leads National Campaign to End Bullying and Drug Abuse in Schools

By Christian Ahodie Yaw | 

A nationwide movement to curb bullying and drug abuse in Ghana’s senior high schools has officially begun, with the Volta Region hosting the high-profile launch of the “Stop Bullying in School” campaign. The African Health Promotion (AHP), in partnership with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education, is leading the initiative to foster safer, more supportive school environments across the country.

The campaign commenced with back-to-back events at Tavierfe Senior High School and Mawuko Girls’ Senior High School, the first institutions selected to pilot the national awareness and intervention programme.

The campaign will be rolled out across six regions—Volta, Oti, Ashanti, Greater Accra, Bono East, and Northern—each hosting two senior high schools that will serve as focal points for advocacy, student mentorship, and community engagement. According to organisers, the strategy is to establish a strong grassroots movement within school communities to address the escalating threats of bullying and substance abuse among students.

“Bullying is not just a school issue—it’s a mental health emergency,” said Jerry Kekeli Fiave, Executive Director of the African Health Promotion, during the launch.

Research and testimonies presented at the event underscored the devastating effects of bullying, which include depression, anxiety, trauma, suicidal ideation, academic decline, absenteeism, and social isolation. Campaign officials noted that even students who bully others may be dealing with unaddressed psychological or social challenges.

The campaign is deploying a multi-pronged approach to prevention and response. Schools are adopting empathy-based education to help students understand the emotional cost of bullying, creating confidential reporting systems, and engaging parents and community leaders in maintaining safe learning environments.

Francis Yaw Agbemadi, Volta Regional Director of Education, warned that students found bullying or engaging in drug use will face strict disciplinary actions. Shadrach Kwame Abiwu, Headmaster of Tavierfe SHS, reaffirmed the school’s commitment, stating, “With the support of teachers and parents, we are determined to end bullying in our school.”

At both launch schools, students staged drama performances to portray the emotional toll of bullying and pledged to serve as anti-bullying ambassadors. One student said, “We need support, not silence. Together, we can end bullying and make our schools places of growth—not pain.”

The “Stop Bullying in School” campaign is being hailed as a transformative milestone in Ghana’s education landscape. As the programme expands to the remaining five regions, organisers are urging all stakeholders to play an active role in creating emotionally safe and supportive schools where every child can thrive.