Government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu has clarified the Interior Minister's recent remarks on the involvement of people in the drug trade. According to Mr. Ofosu, the Minister's comments were specifically referring to officials within the security agencies who are being investigated. The clarification was made before Parliament, where the Minister explained that his comments had been taken out of context.
The Interior Minister had previously stated that the government was still interrogating officials because "there are a lot of things that are not adding up" and that there appeared to be "some involvement of some people within the system." This led to concerns being raised, particularly among the Minority, who have been pressing for Parliament to be recalled to consider concerns over claims that Ghana is becoming a drug transit hub.
Mr. Ofosu cited the recent cocaine seizure in France as an example of the involvement of security officials in the drug trade. In this case, four customs officials have been arrested and are currently undergoing trial. He emphasized that the Interior Minister's comments were meant to highlight the need for vigilance within the security agencies, rather than to make broad accusations about political involvement in drug trafficking.
The Minority has argued that recent drug seizures, including consignments intercepted abroad, require parliamentary scrutiny. However, Mr. Ofosu urged against making broad conclusions about political involvement in drug trafficking, emphasizing the need for specific evidence. He also challenged claims about political parties and drug trafficking, saying that the issue should be assessed against specific evidence.
Mr. Ofosu specifically addressed claims about the involvement of political parties in drug trafficking, stating that under the Fourth Republic, the only political party whose prominent member has been shown to be involved in drug trafficking is the New Patriotic Party. He added that there is no evidence of any prominent member of the National Democratic Congress being involved in drug trafficking.
Despite concerns about the extent of the problem, Mr. Ofosu emphasized that the government remains committed to tackling drug trafficking. He stated that President Mahama has ordered the security agencies to make Ghana's ports safe against drug trafficking, and that the government is being "very discerning" in its efforts to clamp down on the problem.
The government's efforts to address the issue are ongoing, with the President and security agencies working to prevent further instances of drug trafficking. Mr. Ofosu's clarification aims to provide context to the Interior Minister's remarks and reassure the public that the government is taking the issue seriously. The Minority's calls for parliamentary scrutiny are expected to continue, as the issue remains a pressing concern for many Ghanaians.
Key points
- The government has clarified that the Interior Minister's remarks on drug trade involvement referred to security officials, not politicians.
- The government remains committed to tackling drug trafficking, with President Mahama ordering security agencies to make Ghana's ports safe.
- The Minority continues to press for parliamentary scrutiny of recent drug seizures and the government's handling of the issue.
