Ghana, US sign agreement on drugs

Ghana and the US have signed an 84,000-dollar agreement for the purchase of surveillance equipment and vehicles for narcotics law enforcement.

A statement from the Public Relations Unit of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) said Nii Okaija Adamafio, Minister of the Interior and Mrs. Kathyrin Dee Robinson, Ambassador of the US, signed on behalf of the two governments. Nii Okaija said Ghana and the US have had a close and fruitful co-operation in the fight against illicit drug trafficking since the establishment of the NACOB.

He noted that since 1993 the NACOB nationally and internationally has been proven to be one of the leading organisations that has not relented in finding solutions to the on-going global war against drugs at regional and sub-regional levels. He said the assistance would enable the NACOB to conduct counter narcotics operations, gather evidence to prosecute and convict narcotics offenders. He thanked the US government for the positive gesture of support and assured it of Ghana's co-operation and commitment towards the fight against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking.

Mrs Dee Robinson said the agreement is the most recent evidence of the expanded bilateral co-operation in combating the menace of the illicit drug trade. She noted that large criminal organisations that previously operated from countries like Nigeria and South Africa are developing new bases of operation in the sub-region for their drug smuggling and other criminal activities. She said for law enforcement agencies to break up these organisations, there was the need for a regional and co-ordinated approach in tackling the problem from the key sources and transit countries.