“Red,” tramadol, and silence: Ghana’s drug abuse crisis

It starts with a pill. Then another. Then a job lost, a school dropout, and a family that doesn’t know where to turn. Across Ghana in 2026, drug abuse is no longer seen as just a "street problem." Health workers, teachers, and employers say the abuse of prescription drugs and opioids has moved into classrooms, universities, markets, and work sites.

By Caleb Ahinakwah