Date: February 2024 · Location: Senior High Schools, Greater Accra Region · Reach: 12 schools, ~3,000 students
Phase 1 of MAGA Foundation’s flagship anti-drug campaign — Red Alert: Say No to Drug Abuse — was a pilot rolled out across senior high schools in the Greater Accra Region. The goal: meet young Ghanaians where they are, with honest, plainspoken information about drug abuse, and equip them with peer-led tools to support friends at risk.
Why we launched Red Alert
Substance abuse among adolescents in Ghana — cannabis, tramadol, codeine syrup, and emerging synthetic drugs — has been climbing for years. Existing “just say no” messaging is not landing with the cohort that needs it most. MAGA Foundation designed Red Alert as a peer-led, evidence-based programme: school assemblies, classroom dialogues, peer-mentor training, and follow-up support.
What Phase 1 delivered
- School assemblies at 12 senior high schools across Greater Accra, reaching an estimated 3,000 students.
- Classroom dialogues in smaller groups, hosted by trained facilitators — covering recognising the signs of substance abuse, harm reduction, and how to support a friend in trouble.
- Peer-mentor training: 60 student leaders trained as Red Alert peer mentors and equipped with a referral guide.
- Branded campaign materials distributed: t-shirts, posters, and pocket cards.
What we learned
Phase 1 confirmed three things: (1) students engage when the information is specific and free of moralising; (2) peer mentors are far more effective than guest speakers alone; and (3) follow-up is critical — one-off assemblies fade quickly without recurring touchpoints. These lessons shaped the design of Phase 2.
Where this leads
Phase 1 was a pilot; Phase 2 expanded the programme across more regions and added a returning-mentor cohort. MAGA Foundation continues to recruit schools, peer mentors, and partner organisations interested in joining the next phase.