Sammy Gyamfi backs NACOC’s return to port inspection

GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi has welcomed President John Mahama's order to reinstate the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to Ghana's list of Port Inspection Agencies. In an X post, Mr Gyamfi highlighted the recent drug bust in another country, which appears to have been traced back to one of Ghana's ports. This incident raises doubts about the efficiency of monitoring and inspection systems in place at Ghana's ports.

He noted that NACOC, the agency responsible for monitoring, regulating, enforcing and controlling narcotics trafficking in Ghana, was removed from the list of Port Inspection Agencies in June 2018. While the reasons behind this decision are unclear, Mr Gyamfi believes it weakened NACOC's port inspection function and prevented them from detecting and preventing drug trafficking through the country's entry and exit points by air, land and sea.

He expressed his support for the President's decision to restore NACOC to the list of Port Inspection Agencies, granting the Commission unfettered access to all entry and exit points. As a former colleague of the Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey-led NACOC, Mr Gyamfi is optimistic that with the necessary support, NACOC will be able to curb drug smuggling.

President Mahama has also directed that all scanners and personnel at the ports be replaced immediately. Mr Gyamfi is confident that these measures, if carried out effectively, will enhance port security and prevent similar incidents from happening again.