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Rate of
drug shipment to Ghana becoming worse – Bartels
Accra, Oct. 24, Ghanadot/GNA – Mr. Kwamena Bartels, Minister
of the Interior on Wednesday bemoaned the rate at which
massive quantities of drugs were being shipped into the
country and said government would make the necessary
amendments to PNDCL 236 to deal with the current trends.
He said the situation was as a result of the increased
efforts of Drug Enforcement Agencies in Europe and Latin
America to rid their countries of the trade forcing drug
cartels to seek alternative routes in Africa.
Mr. Bartels said the government was collaborating with the
World Customs Organisation (WCO) and the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to assist to implement the
global container control project at the main harbour in
Ghana for profiling.
The Minister was speaking at the launch of the Hibiscus
anti-drug trafficking campaign in Accra which is being
supported by the United Kingdom in collaboration with the
Government of Ghana.
“I wish to assure you that we have the political will to
implement the provisions of the International Conventions we
are signatory to,” he said and commended their partners for
their support in training and provision of equipment.
Mr Bartels appealed to government’s partners to support the
Narcotics Control Board with the establishment of Treatment
Centres for the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts as a
way of rescuing them from the destruction of drugs.
He noted that currently the Psychiatric Hospitals provided
treatment for addicts but the stigma attached to them
prevented many from seeking early help.
He urged all stakeholders to increase the awareness through
education and campaigns since it was only though that, that
the country could make progress in the fight against drug
abuse and trafficking.
Dr. Kim Howells, UK Foreign Office Minister said the United
Nations spent about 300 billion dollars a year on drug
related cases and that the UK sought to work with countries
affected by the drug trade.
He said the rate at which West Africa was being used as
trans-shipment point was worrying and urged Ghana to combine
her efforts with the European Union, the UK, UN, Interpol
and other agencies to curb the menace.
GNA
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