KEY POINTS
- NACOC destroyed drugs seized over a four-year period.
- Agency emphasizes prevention, education, and rehabilitation for change.
- Cross-border partnerships are key to stopping drug trafficking.
In a massive operation to combat drug addiction and trafficking in Ghana, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) burned more than 150,000 kilogrammes of different illegal narcotics that were confiscated between 2021 and 2024.
Massive drug burn targets Ghana’s trafficking problem
Approximately 105,700 kg of cannabis, 46,128 kg of heroin, 37 kg of speedball, 10 kg of cocaine, 9 kg of meth, and 3 kg of MDMA and codeine were among the drugs that were seized. In the Ningo-Prampram District, at the Bundase Military Camp, NACOC conducted the destruction exercise.
According to myjoyonline, the destruction of these medications is an essential step in the commission’s duty to safeguard public health and safety, according to NACOC Director-General Dr. Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh. According to Adu-Amanfoh, “each kilogramme of these illegal substances represents lives that could be destroyed, families upended, and communities destabilized.” “We send a strong message to drug trafficking networks that there is no place in our society or our nation for activities that perpetuate addiction, violence, and crime by eliminating these substances from existence.”
Adu-Amanfoh emphasized that although interdiction and enforcement are important, they are insufficient to address the intricate problem of drug usage in Ghana and elsewhere. “Prevention, education, and rehabilitation are crucial pillars in the broader strategy to address drug abuse in our nation, and enforcement and interdiction alone are not a sole solution to this complex issue,” he stated. By sponsoring initiatives that discourage drug use and encourage treatment and recovery, NACOC seeks to address the supply and demand sides of the issue in order to combat drug abuse in a balanced manner.
Cross-border cooperation strengthens Ghana’s drug policies
The Director-General commended Ghana’s efforts to combat drug trafficking, especially those aimed at disrupting supply lines, protecting communities, and dismantling trafficking networks. He highlighted the value of cross-border cooperation to improve enforcement capabilities and fortify national drug policies, attributing these successes to continued cooperation among national and regional partners. He claimed that NACOC’s adherence to these collaborations demonstrates the commission’s commitment to preserving national security and public health.
Dr. Adu-Amanfoh reaffirmed NACOC’s dedication to collaborating closely with regional, local, and international partners in the battle against drug trafficking. He was hopeful that NACOC and its allies could make Ghanaian communities safer and free from the negative effects of illegal substances if they worked hard enough.
