Blaming cocaine problem on NACOC’s removal from ports is absurd – Amankwa-Manu

Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, has dismissed claims that Ghana’s current cocaine trafficking problem stems from the removal of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from the list of Port Inspection Agencies in 2018. He dismissed the argument as “absurd,” stating that Ghana’s recent drug-related issues point to broader security gaps that demand immediate attention.

This stance follows comments made by GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, who argued that the removal of NACOC weakened Ghana’s ability to detect and prevent drug trafficking through its ports, despite the commission’s mandate to monitor, regulate, and enforce narcotics trafficking laws.

Amankwa-Manu addressed the claims on Joy FM’s Newsnight, rejecting the notion that the 2018 decision has anything to do with the current situation. He pointed out that within 18 months, the problem arose, and blaming the 2018 decision is, in his view, unjustified. Amankwa-Manu highlighted concerns raised by the Interior Minister regarding elements operating in Ghana and the reluctance of intelligence agencies to share information, indicating deeper security challenges that must be tackled.

He emphasized that the Interior Minister’s statements about internal issues and intelligence agency unfriendliness to Ghana point to significant problems that need addressing.

According to Amankwa-Manu, the focus should be on identifying and rectifying the security gaps rather than assigning blame for a decision made years ago. He maintained that Parliament should address these concerns through a bipartisan approach, urging that national security should be the top priority over partisan considerations.

He stressed that it is the nation of Ghana that needs building, not just political parties like the NDC or NPP. Amankwa-Manu questioned the partisan approach when it comes to security matters, asking why Parliament cannot apply a bipartisan approach to the current cocaine-related concerns.