A DRAFT legislation to amend the Narcotics Control Enforcement and Sanctions Act 1990 (PNDC L236) with a view to toughening laws against narcotics is currently with the Attorney General’s Department awaiting further action.
When passed into law, it will convert the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) into an independent commission and make the laws on narcotics tougher.
Emelia Arthur, Deputy Western Regional Minister disclosed this at the commemoration of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking which was on the theme “Be smart to be Healthy, Don’t Do Drugs.”
The purpose of the event was to create awareness and foster public support for various interventions taken by government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), aimed at counteracting both drug trafficking and drug abuse.
She noted that government was committed to resourcing not only NACOB but all other security agencies to wage a relentless and concerted war against the drug menace.
Ms. Arthur stressed that if the youth become addicted to narcotic drugs, the future of the country would be bleak and that is the reason government is devoting much attention and resources to fighting the drug menace in a collaborative manner.
In an address read on his behalf, the NACOB Board Chairman, Baffour Assasie-Gyimah expressed worry about the way drug trafficking had reached a sophisticated level with traffickers using all available methods and techniques to outwit law enforcement agencies.
He revealed that as part of efforts to complement enforcement and control measures, the board had established a Sniffer Dogs Operations Team to ensure improved detection of concealed drugs in people’s baggage.
The NACOB board chairman added that the board was in the process of recruiting highly qualified persons to augment the current staff strength to strengthen the war against drugs.
“The governing body will continue to improve the working conditions of staff of NACOB and also work closely with them in making sure that our country is drug free,” he pointed out.
Source: Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
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