The Deputy Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Alexander Twum-Barimah, has called on the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to refrain from politicizing the recent seizure of cocaine in France linked to Ghana. He made these remarks on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, September 25. According to him, this is not the first time authorities have intercepted cocaine or other illicit drugs at the country's exit or entry points.
Mr. Twum-Barimah noted that Ghana has a history of recording numerous drug seizures. In 2018, 56 kilogrammes of cocaine were intercepted in Ghana, and a similar amount was seized in 2019. On September 3, 2020, at the airport, authorities intercepted an amount of heroin from Kenya. He emphasized that the latest case should not be treated as a partisan issue.
The recent cocaine seizure was made by French customs at the port of Dunkirk. Nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine were found concealed in a container of plastic waste shipped from Ghana. Six people have appeared before a court in Accra in connection with the case. The NPP has called for the removal of heads of state agencies responsible for port security, customs, and narcotics control.
The NPP argues that the shipment raises serious questions about how drugs could leave Ghana undetected. However, Mr. Twum-Barimah cautioned against politicizing the issue. He emphasized that NACOC has been working to address inherited gaps in the fight against drug trafficking.
According to Mr. Twum-Barimah, NACOC has been making efforts to enhance its operations. He suggested that NACOC should be part of the port inspection team to help prevent such incidents in the future. This, he believes, will help to strengthen the country's fight against drug trafficking.
The issue has sparked concerns about Ghana's role in the global drug trade. Some have expressed fears that Ghana may gain notoriety as a drug-trafficking hub if the problem is not addressed. The government has been urged to take concrete steps to prevent the country from being used as a transit point for illicit drugs.
The NACOC deputy boss also mentioned that the country's drug problem is not insurmountable. He expressed confidence that with the right strategies and cooperation, Ghana can overcome the challenge. The authorities have been urged to work together to prevent the country from being used for drug trafficking.
Key points
- Deputy Director-General of NACOC, Alexander Twum-Barimah, urges NPP to stop politicizing cocaine bust.
- Ghana has a history of recording numerous drug seizures, including 56 kilogrammes of cocaine in 2018 and 2019.
- The recent seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine in France has sparked concerns about Ghana's role in the global drug trade.
