NDC, NPP communicators call for stronger security measures to curb drug trafficking

Communications team members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Chiana-Paga Constituency have called for stronger security measures, improved intelligence gathering and greater coordination among security agencies to combat drug trafficking in Ghana.

Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Wednesday, September 23, the two communicators described drug trafficking as a serious national security concern with far-reaching implications for the country.

Alfred Aliah, a member of the NDC Communications Team in the Chiana-Paga Constituency, expressed concern over the recent seizure of 3.9 tonnes of cocaine in France, which has reportedly been linked to Ghana.

He said the development had generated concerns among Ghanaians, civil society organisations and religious leaders, and raised questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s border and security systems.

Aliah welcomed the arrest of some suspects and the ongoing investigations, while expressing support for President John Mahama’s decision to convene a high-level meeting with the security agencies to address the issue.

He also questioned the effectiveness of security checks at the country’s ports and airports.

According to him, a 2018 Cabinet decision, which he said reduced the number of agencies physically inspecting goods at Ghana’s borders and ports from 16 to three, could have implications for the detection of illicit substances.

He specifically argued that the removal of some agencies, including the Narcotics Control Commission, from the physical inspection process could affect efforts to detect and prevent the movement of narcotics through the country.

Although Aliah acknowledged that having 16 agencies physically inspecting goods could result in delays, he maintained that national security considerations should also be given priority.

He argued that agencies with specific mandates to combat narcotics should play an active role in detecting and preventing the movement of illicit drugs.

However, Maxwell Akunyire, a member of the NPP Communications Team in the constituency, cautioned against directly linking the current drug-trafficking concerns to the 2018 decision without evidence establishing such a connection.

He said the focus should instead be on identifying weaknesses within the country’s security and border-control systems that could allow illicit drugs to pass through undetected.

Akunyire urged political parties to move beyond partisan accusations and treat drug trafficking as a national security issue requiring collective action.

He also referred to an earlier incident involving an aircraft that had reportedly travelled to Ghana, questioning its purpose and what it allegedly brought into or took out of the country.

He said such matters should have been thoroughly investigated by the appropriate authorities.

Akunyire further questioned how illicit cargo could pass through official channels without detection and called for greater accountability if investigations establish serious lapses on the part of security agencies.

The two communicators also exchanged views on the roles of successive administrations in addressing drug trafficking and the factors that may have allowed the problem to persist.

While they differed on the causes and responsibilities associated with the issue, both agreed on the need for stronger security measures, effective intelligence gathering and sharing, improved cargo monitoring and closer coordination among agencies responsible for securing Ghana’s borders.

They stressed that sustained collaboration among the government, security agencies, political parties and the public would be necessary to strengthen Ghana’s efforts to prevent the country from being used as a transit point for illicit drugs.

Mike 105.3FM | Navrongo | Claudius Yarrow

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