Let’s not politicise issues – Mustapha Gbande urges united front to combat drug trafficking

Mustapha Gbande, Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged for a united national response to address Ghana's rising drug trafficking issue. He cautioned political parties against turning the matter into a partisan battle. This stance emerged after the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) held a press conference, highlighting recent cocaine seizures and calling for accountability.

Speaking on Adom FM's Dwaso Nsem, Gbande emphasized that the issue should worry every Ghanaian due to the far-reaching consequences of drug trafficking. He questioned the utility of the NPP's press conference, urging political actors with information on the trade to provide tangible evidence to relevant authorities. "The press conference was a no-no," he stated, suggesting that unsubstantiated allegations hinder the work of security agencies in dismantling drug networks.

Gbande stressed that cocaine trafficking transcends political affiliations and should not be viewed as an NPP or NDC problem. He warned that Ghana could face international repercussions if associated with drug trafficking, potentially impacting ordinary citizens abroad. "If someone is travelling and suffers inhumane treatment because of this issue we have brought upon ourselves," he cautioned, emphasizing the far-reaching impact on Ghanaians regardless of political backgrounds.

He urged NPP and NDC to set aside political differences and collaborate on a unified approach to combat the illicit drug trade. Gbande argued against attributing recent drug cases to the incumbent administration, as it risks further politicizing a nationwide problem. He advocated that political parties present credible intelligence to the appropriate security agencies to aid ongoing investigations.