Mahama restores NACOC to Port Inspection Duties, orders change of all port scanners after drug bust linked to Ghana – Sammy Gyamfi
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board and National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, has expressed deep concern over a recent report of a drug bust in another jurisdiction that was traced to one of Ghana’s ports.
According to Mr. Gyamfi, the incident could only have been occasioned by weak monitoring and inspection systems at the country’s ports.
He noted that the body mandated to monitor, regulate, enforce and control the trafficking of narcotics in Ghana is the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), yet it was intriguing that NACOC was completely removed from the list of Port Inspection Agencies by the government in June 2018.
“While it is unclear what may have informed that decision in 2018, it is clear that the said decision weakened NACOC’s port inspection function and denied it the ability to detect and prevent drug trafficking through the country’s ports of entry and exit,” he stated.
Mr. Gyamfi said it is refreshing to learn that President John Dramani Mahama has directed that, effective immediately, NACOC be restored to the list of Port Inspection Agencies and granted unfettered access to all entry and exit points by air, land and sea.
“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 added.
He further disclosed that the President has also directed that all scanners and personnel at the ports be changed effective immediately.
“I believe that these measures, if implemented effectively, will strengthen checks and control at our ports to forestall the recurrence of these unfortunate incidents,” Mr. Gyamfi concluded.
About The Author
