Akosua Manu, policy advisor on Gender and Social Protection to NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has raised concerns about the recent drug trafficking cases linked to Ghana.
She said drug trafficking has affected successive governments, but argued that the scale of recent cases under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration requires closer attention.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Tuesday, September 22, Akosua Manu said Ghana had recorded drug-related cases under different administrations, including during the Rawlings era.
According to her, the issue should not be viewed as a problem that started under one particular government.
However, she said the volume of recent cases was worrying and called for a closer look at Ghana’s systems for detecting and preventing drug trafficking.
Her comments follow a number of major drug seizures linked to Ghana, including the recent interception by French authorities of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana.
Akosua Manu questioned how such a large quantity of narcotics could move through the country without being detected by the agencies responsible for border and security checks.
She specifically mentioned the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), National Security and airport security authorities, saying their effectiveness in detecting large-scale trafficking must be examined.
She called for greater scrutiny of the systems used to monitor Ghana’s borders and prevent the country from becoming a transit point for international drug trafficking.
Akosua Manu also said the authorities must provide answers on how large volumes of narcotics could move through Ghana despite the long-standing efforts to combat the trade.
