29-year-old teacher cycles from Jirapa to Accra to campaign against drug abuse

A 29-year-old teacher, Tiekan Joseph, has embarked on a bicycle journey from Jirapa in the Upper West Region to Accra to raise awareness about drug and substance abuse among young people.

Mr. Tiekan, a teacher at Hausakope Presbyterian Primary School in the Sene East District of the Bono East Region, said the journey was aimed at encouraging young people to stay away from drugs and other harmful substances.

He began the journey in Jirapa on August 1, 2026, after earlier participating in the Bong-ngo Festival, having cycled from Yeji in the Bono East Region to the Upper West Region in April. He is expected to arrive in Accra on Sunday, August 9.

That journey generated publicity for the festival and inspired him to use cycling as a platform to promote social causes.

As part of his advocacy against drug and substance abuse, Mr. Tiekan subsequently cycled through Nadowli, Babile and Konzokala before returning to Jirapa.

He said his current journey to Accra was more than a cycling adventure, describing it as an awareness campaign aimed particularly at young people.

He called for increased public education on the dangers of drug and substance abuse and urged young people to make choices that would protect their health, future and livelihoods.

Beyond the anti-drug campaign, Mr. Tiekan is also using the journey to advocate for safer and better roads across the country.

He is particularly calling for the speedy completion of the Wa-Techiman road project, which he said would improve road safety, ease movement and support economic activity.

Mr. Tiekan said he hoped his journey would inspire other young people to use their talents, interests and abilities to promote positive causes and make a difference in their communities.