The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has linked Ghana’s weakened capacity to detect drug trafficking at its ports to the removal of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from the country’s list of Port Inspection Agencies in 2018.
According to Mr Gyamfi, the decision, taken in June 2018, deprived NACOC of an important operational role at Ghana’s ports despite the Commission’s statutory responsibility for monitoring, regulating and enforcing laws relating to narcotics trafficking.
He said the rationale for the decision was unclear but argued that its effect was to limit NACOC’s ability to identify and prevent the movement of illicit drugs through Ghana’s ports of entry and exit.
“In Ghana, the body mandated to monitor, regulate, enforce and control the trafficking of narcotics is the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC),” he said.
Mr Gyamfi’s comments come amid renewed concerns over the use of Ghana-linked consignments in international drug trafficking following a recent seizure in another jurisdiction.
He said the development highlighted gaps in Ghana’s port security arrangements and reinforced the need for stronger inspection and monitoring systems at the country’s borders.
NACOC to regain port role
Mr Gyamfi welcomed a reported directive by President John Dramani Mahama to restore NACOC to the list of Port Inspection Agencies.
Under the reported directive, NACOC is also expected to gain access to Ghana’s entry and exit points by air, land and sea.
Mr Gyamfi said the move would strengthen the Commission’s ability to carry out its mandate and support broader efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.
“As someone who has closely worked with the Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey-led NACOC in fighting gold-smuggling, I am confident that with the necessary support, NACOC will succeed in stemming this tide,” he said.
He called for the necessary institutional and logistical support to enable NACOC to effectively perform its expanded role at Ghana’s ports and other points of entry and exit.
