The Chief Executive Officer of Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has expressed his support for President John Dramani Mahama's directive to reinstate the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as a Port Inspection Agency. This decision comes after a recent drug trafficking incident linked to one of Ghana's ports raised concerns about the effectiveness of the country's monitoring and inspection systems. Gyamfi emphasized that this development is a matter of concern for patriotic Ghanaians.
According to Gyamfi, NACOC was removed from the list of Port Inspection Agencies in June 2018, which has weakened the Commission's ability to inspect Ghana's ports and detect or prevent narcotics trafficking. The reasons behind this 2018 decision are still unclear. Gyamfi described President Mahama's directive to restore NACOC's inspection role as a positive development, highlighting the importance of the Commission's mandate to monitor, regulate, enforce, and control narcotics trafficking.
President Mahama has directed that NACOC be given unrestricted access to all entry and exit points, including air, land, and sea. Gyamfi, who has worked closely with NACOC in efforts to combat gold smuggling, expressed confidence that the Commission can help address the problem if provided with the necessary support. This move is expected to enhance NACOC's capabilities in inspecting and controlling Ghana's ports.
Gyamfi also mentioned that President Mahama has ordered the immediate replacement of all scanners and personnel at the country's ports. He believes that if effectively implemented, these measures will strengthen inspection and control systems, preventing similar drug trafficking incidents in the future. The implementation of these directives is expected to have a significant impact on Ghana's port security.
The recent drug trafficking incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of monitoring and inspection systems at Ghana's ports. Gyamfi argued that this incident highlights the need for a robust inspection regime to prevent such occurrences. The restoration of NACOC's role is seen as a step in the right direction towards addressing these concerns.
Sammy Gyamfi's support for President Mahama's directive is based on his experience working with NACOC. As CEO of GoldBod, Gyamfi has been involved in efforts to combat gold smuggling and has seen firsthand the importance of effective inspection and control systems. His endorsement of the directive reflects his confidence in NACOC's capabilities and the potential impact of the measures on port security.
The implementation of President Mahama's directives is expected to be closely monitored by stakeholders, including the general public. The effectiveness of these measures in preventing future incidents and enhancing port security will be crucial in determining their long-term impact. The Publishing Desk at Media General Digital reported this development, citing the PR Unit of GoldBod as the source.
Key points
- President Mahama has directed the restoration of NACOC's role in inspecting containers at Ghana's ports.
- The decision aims to strengthen inspection and control systems at the ports.
- The move follows a recent drug trafficking incident linked to one of Ghana's ports.
