The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed calls by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the removal of the Interior Minister and officials of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and Customs Division over alleged lapses in the fight against drug trafficking. Deputy Director of Elections and IT for NDC, Tanko Rashid-Computer, described the NPP's allegations as baseless.
Speaking on JoyFM's Top Story, Mr. Rashid-Computer questioned the credibility of the NPP's recent allegations, citing previous claims by some of its members that were subsequently described as metaphors by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. He recalled an earlier press conference at which a Vice Chairperson of the NPP allegedly claimed that a location in Accra was being used for cocaine production.
According to Mr. Rashid-Computer, Mr. Afenyo-Markin later described the statement as a metaphor, arguing that the opposition should not expect the government to take its latest allegations seriously. “Dismiss them with the contempt they deserve,” he said when asked whether the NDC government would heed the NPP's call for the removal of some government appointees.
Mr. Rashid-Computer insisted that the government remained committed to tackling drug trafficking and would pursue everyone involved in the trade, including those who facilitate and benefit from the criminal activities. He cited a recent operation involving NACOC and Lebanese authorities, explaining that international drug trafficking networks required detailed investigations.
He said arresting only those physically transporting the drugs would not be enough to dismantle the networks, stressing the need to trace the organisers, collaborators and financiers behind the operations. “It's a kind of chain. It's a supply chain. So, you need to track them. And so NACOC, we have to congratulate NACOC for going through this tangent and making sure that they're tracking that,” he said.
Mr. Rashid-Computer added that authorities were picking up individuals suspected of collaborating with the network in Ghana as investigations progressed. He also appealed to the opposition to allow investigative agencies to carry out their work without political interference, criticising instances where opposition members allegedly mobilised to investigative bodies following the arrest of persons they considered their associates.
The NDC official maintained that the government's commitment was to ensure that everyone involved in drug trafficking was brought to account, regardless of their position or role in the network. He stated that the long arm of the investigation would reach out to all those involved, who were enabling and benefiting from the trade.
Key points
- NDC rejects NPP's demand for removal of Interior Minister and NACOC officials over alleged lapses in fight against drug trafficking.
- Government remains committed to tackling drug trafficking and pursuing those involved.
- Investigations into international drug trafficking networks require tracing organisers, collaborators, and financiers.
