Gov't steps up fight against drug trafficking

Mr Thomas Broni, Deputy Minister for the Interior, has said the government would not allow the country to become a source of supply of drugs nor used as a transit point for drug trafficking.

He said rape, prostitution, terrorism, armed robbery and juvenile delinquency were the manifestations of the drug menace plaguing the society.

Mr Broni was speaking at the launch of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the theme "Lets Talk about Drugs," at Kpando.

He said: "Drugs contribute to almost all the issues that threaten mankind today," and appealed to religious leaders, politicians, musicians and the judiciary to help solve the problem.

The deputy minister, who is also Chairman of the Narcotics Control Board, ''The full force of the criminal justice system would be brought to bear on any individual or groups caught indulging in drug activities.''

Mr Broni said the government had empowered agencies concerned with the fight against drugs with tools and equipment to uproot the danger and negative effect of the menace on the population.

''We find in our streets able bodied citizens whose lives have been totally destroyed as a result of their addiction to drugs."

In a message read on his behalf, the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, said almost 200 million people, accounting for 4.7 per cent of the world's population above 14 years, use illicit drugs.

Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, said drug related issues had become major development concerns for the government in view of the negative effect of the menace on the population.

He called for the formation of drug awareness clubs in schools to educate students to avoid drugs.