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Narcotics Board suspects cocaine, heroin production in Ghana
Accra, March 4, Ghanadot/GNA - Contrary
to the assertion that Ghana was just a transit point for
illicit drugs and not a production country, Dr Joseph
Bediako Asare, a member of the International Narcotics
Control Board (INCB), on Wednesday told the Ghana News
Agency that the Board suspects there is small scale
manufacture of cocaine and heroin in the country.
He said there was overwhelming evidence of the availability
of the chemicals used in producing illicit drugs like
cocaine, heroin and amphetamine type stimulants in Ghana.
These chemicals are used to refine the coca and opium, which
are imported into the country.
"These chemicals come into the country mainly from South
Africa and they come through customs check points all the
time but the officers are not able to detect them," he said.
Dr Asare was speaking to the GNA after the launch of the
2007 INCB Report, which focuses on Proportionality and Drug
Related Offences.
He noted that even though the security agencies were aware
of the availability of the illicit drugs precursor chemicals
in the country, they remained somewhat aloof about it
because they thought Ghanaians were innocent about their
availability and use.
"We tend to think that our youth are innocent but they are
gradually getting into the business of drug production and
very soon if we do not stem the influx of the chemicals we
will have a big drug problem on hand," he warned.
Dr. Asare gave the GNA a list of precursor chemicals used in
producing cocaine, heroine and amphetamine type stimulants,
which, he said, were currently available in the country.
He called on the government and its agencies responsible for
the import of certain chemicals for legitimate purposes to
do proper estimates before importing them to ensure that the
exact quantities were imported to prevent excess chemicals
from getting into the hands of the bad nuts.
The report itself confirmed that drug traffickers were using
Africa as a transshipment area for precursors such as
ephedrine and pseudoephedrine used for making amphetamine
type stimulants.
"Weak legislation against trafficking in precursor chemicals
in most Africa makes it easy to obtain chemicals for illicit
drug manufacture."
It said Interpol estimated that 200-300 tons of cocaine made
their way from Latin America into Europe through West
Africa, where it was stockpiled and repackaged for
transport.
The report said West African countries, mainly Ghana,
Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire lacked the economic means,
legislative and institutional structures to counter the drug
challenge effectively.
As a result Africa currently accounted for 7.6 per cent of
all cocaine abusers in the world and the production and
abuse of cannabis was also on the rise on the continent, the
report said.
"Another problem in Africa is the misuse of pharmaceutical
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substance, which are sold by street vendors and healthcare
providers without a prescription," it said.
The report therefore called on African governments to
address the problem, which had severe consequences on the
health of their population and social fabric.
Dr Asare noted that in focusing on the principle of
proportionality in drug related offences, the report sought
to propose measures that were proportional to the gravity of
the drug menace in dealing with drug related offences.
In that regard, he said, the report recommended the setting
up of special courts for dealing with drug-related cases,
saying that currently 50 per cent of prisoners in Ghana were
in jail for drug related offences.
"We also need acceptable treatment facilities to deal with
persons engaged in drug related offences to ensure better
rehabilitation because our current social welfare system
that takes care of such persons is not effective."
Dr Asare said there was need to be serious about going after
suspected drug barons, investigate, prosecute and jail them
where necessary to deter people from getting into the drug
trade.
GNA
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