The Deputy Director-General of Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Alexander Twum-Barimah, has spoken out against politicising the recent seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs. In an interview on JoyNews' Newsfile, he emphasised that this was not the first time authorities had intercepted cocaine or other illicit drugs at the country's exit or entry points. He noted that Ghana had recorded numerous drug seizures in the past.
According to Mr Twum-Barimah, Ghana has a significant history of narcotics cases. He cited examples of large-scale seizures, including 56 kilogrammes of cocaine intercepted in 2018 and a similar amount in 2019. In 2020, on September 3rd, authorities at the airport seized an amount of heroin from Kenya. He cautioned against treating the latest case as a partisan issue, stressing the need for a unified approach to tackling the problem.
The recent cocaine seizure was made at the port of Dunkirk, where French customs found the drugs 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 opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the removal of heads of state agencies responsible for port security, customs, and narcotics control.
The NPP argued that the shipment raises serious questions about how drugs could leave Ghana undetected. However, Mr Twum-Barimah urged against politicising the issue, warning that this could undermine efforts to address the problem. He emphasised the need for a collaborative approach to tackling drug trafficking.
The seizure has sparked a heated debate in Ghana, with some politicians and commentators calling for the government to take action against those responsible. However, others have warned against making the issue a partisan one, arguing that this could distract from efforts to address the root causes of the problem.
In related developments, some politicians have expressed concerns about the government's handling of the issue. For example, Ntim Fordjour has claimed that the government's dismissal of his cocaine intelligence emboldens traffickers. Meanwhile, Dr Osae-Kwapong has warned that politicisation could undermine a parliamentary probe into the cocaine seizures.
The issue has also sparked discussions about the need for improved cooperation between Ghana and other countries in tackling drug trafficking. The government has been urged to take a proactive approach to addressing the problem, including working with international partners to disrupt trafficking networks.
Key points
- The recent cocaine seizure has sparked a heated debate in Ghana about the country's role in the global drug trade.
- The NPP has called for the removal of heads of state agencies responsible for port security, customs, and narcotics control.
- The government has been urged to take a proactive approach to addressing the problem, including working with international partners to disrupt trafficking networks.
