The History Of Drugs & Its Usage In Ghana

Down Memory Lane

Courtesy US Gov’t

Once Ghana is discussing the recent drug bust in London, we will deem it fit to reproduce sections of the US government’s findings regarding drug usage and trafficking, in, and through Ghana, as published by Mr. Julian Assange and his whistle-blower website, the Wikileaks.

According to the Wikileaks report on GHANA’S ELECTIONS as captured in cable number 08ACCRA1472, Dr. Kwesi Aning, a researcher at the Kofi Annan International Peace-Keeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) told the US government through its agent: - Political Officer – Poloff; that, despite his New Patriotic Party (NPP)-leanings, he, Dr. Aning, had been disillusioned by the party’s corruption, in particular, the involvement of members of the NPP government in growing narcotic trafficking in the country-Ghana.

He indicated that, the drug trafficking had gotten to its zenith; reaching into all sectors of the Kufuor-led NPP government, including high level of the judiciary, which is complicit in allowing those involved and several high-level officials, who got themselves caught deep in the drug-trafficking business; including, the NPP MP Kennedy Agyapong, Kufuor’s Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani and NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo’s brother-in-law, Mr. Raymond Amankwa, if not brought under control in the next five years, threatens to destabilize Ghana.

According to reports filed by the US government at the time, Dr. Kwesi Aning believes that, following the NPP’s high levels of corruption and involvement with movements of illicit drugs in Ghana, the NPP “can’t accept a loss in the elections” and that, it will go to great length to prevent a victory by the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Dr. Aning was also captured in the cable, admitting to Poloff that the NPP flagbearer, Mr. Williams Addo -Dankwa Akufo -Addo had used drugs in his younger days, but that is now “under control.” He added cryptically that “you can check with German intelligence on that”, the cable contained.

Also contain in cable number 08ACCRA150, still on GHANA’S ELECTIONS, political commentator and the Managing Editor of The Insight newspaper, Mr. Kwesi Pratt Jnr. was captured with his admission that he had personal knowledge of the NPP flagbearer’s drug use, but that it was not cocaine.

“Nana used to smoke a lot of marijuana”, Pratt said, and I’m telling you, a lot. “Even in the morning, there used to be a cloud around him and you could see that he was high”, Kwesi Pratt told Poloff.

Readers; this is just to refresh your minds about how the exit and entry points of this country were used in drug-trafficking under ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor and his NPP government vis-à-vis revelations from Dr, Kwesi Aning and Mr. Kwesi Pratt on Nana Akufo-Addo, whether the NPP today has any moral authority accusing the NDC government of doing little to curb the menace that they had left behind years ago.