Much of Africa has accepted, rather uncritically, that the rapid growth of our youth population is a good thing.

But without a steady route to development and prosperity, a youth bulge is a road to explosive societal damnation, not positive dividends.

An unregulated political party funding regime makes it the root of all evil. Into that fetid pond (political party funds), flow the polluted tributaries of illicit proceeds from Galamsey, narcotics, and ultimately, terrorism.

There is a security element in the search for solutions, to be sure.

But having been involved in dealing with drug and alcohol addiction at scale in the UK, this will require much more to solve on a sustainable basis in Ghana.

Ultimately, it is a governance problem that requires comprehensive interventions on the axis of:

+ creation of meaningful socio-economic opportunities for our young people.

+ mass education of victims and potential victims, early enough.

+ a medical system that is effective in the care and rehabilitation of victims.

+ a security system that focuses on dealing with major suppliers and distributors of narcotic substances (not the incarceration and overt focus on criminalising petty users)

+ a governance system that is now put under pressure by us all, to deal with the opacity of political party funding.

We must deal with the big fish, not petty criminals.

Or else, we are only a few steps away from becoming like a Latin American narco-state of the '80s and '90s.

To dismantle such networks of violence and destruction in society takes tough leadership. Not the cuddly Teddy Bears Santa Claus democracies typically produce.

As citizens, we must join forces to make dealing with the narcotics menace an urgent and important political issue.

Before all hell breaks loose.

I hope the next big drive of the chieftaincy system will not be yet more festivals and painting of faces. They too must join the state efforts to deal with such matters and Galamsey.

Watch the full documentary below: