Here They Go Again!

The drug menace in the country is the latest canker to get our dear nation scratching its head again. The recent bust of the two British teens at our airport should have been a plus for the fight against this menace. But personally I am not too comfortable about the way this latest bust is being handled by some sections of the media.
If one has to consider the current energy problems being faced in this country, then this gradual emergence of our country as a ‘hot’ hub for drug smuggling does not augur well for us at all. Our already fragile economy which unlike the citizens of this country, is reported to be ‘fairing very well’ even in the midst of the energy crisis, stands to lose a lot as a result. I know there are all sorts of explanations for our seemingly ‘resilient’ economy but I admit I’m no expert! We seem to have a lot of energy experts lately. The image of this great nation which was plucked out of the reigns of our colonial masters has been greatly tainted.
I watched a news item on BBC News and I was really shocked! I have always been a good listener of some programmes on BBC Radio and TV. The BBC report portrayed Ghana as a major drug destination for years which I completely disagree with, and cheaply vent their spleen on an office structure here in our country! Yes! An office building! Ghana has its own share of drug cases and quite some big ones sometimes but if the BBC thinks it can come to Africa and dictate to us what they think is right, mudsling our nation just because their nationals are involved, then they are in for a big surprise. The offices of the Ghana Narcotics Control Board which you portrayed as ‘an uncompleted building’ is the same office used as part of the Operation Westbridge project set up in November 2006 as a collaboration between the Ghanaian Narcotic Control Board and HM Revenue and Customs of the UK. Their offices as everyone knows were just temporary hold ups for the kids and credible reports even point to the fact that these girls are being given ‘preferential’ treatment!!
I think the BBC should just focus on more pertinent issues as I have always known them and try to be more objective. To think the reporter even tried to portray Ghana as a nation of coffin makers when the AGOA Conference was going on! Such reportage should be condemned completely because Africa is sick of always being portrayed as a ‘senseless’ continent! If you want to report on issues here, then please be a bit objective! Coffins indeed? aah! BBC! I personally think you do your best to be objective sometimes but this is so biased and if we spend lavishly on funerals, was that why your reporter was here?!
That was a nice presentation by your reporter but hey I have lights off tonight! Will you be coming to cover that?
If any international media organization or nation hiding behind a media organization thinks they are so smart to decide how Ghana should handle this case, they should remember that Ghana has made its own laws which do not deserve to be interpreted by anyone else but our own judiciary! The laws of the land must simply be left alone to work and fairly in all cases irrespective of your nationality.
Oh! A bird just whispered to me that not one, two or three but ten Cabinet Members in the UK have admitted using cannabis! Well that should make the BBC research on why the youth in their country are having very easy access to drugs and how they can curb the canker in their country, just so it doesn’t spill over at the corridors of our dear nation Ghana. I can’t wait to hear that report on the BBC’s news over and over again! Or did I miss it?
I think no matter what any section of the international media tries to portray this issue, the laws of our land should be left alone to work, period! Congrats to the Narcotics Control Board of Ghana and the various Security agencies in the country for a good job done! But as we all know, a lot more needs to be done to put a stop to this problem. I believe all stakeholders, parents, teachers, politicians, etc. should all throw their weight behind the crusade against this menace.
And to the BBC, our dear airport where I am thinking your reporter might have disembarked is not even known as the Accra International Airport as reported but the Kotoka International Airport! Apology accepted and keep up your good works.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.