Don't Rubbish The Justice Georgia Wood Cmtte Report

Following the suspected loss of about 77 parcels of cocaine aboard an MV BENJAMIN shipping vessel, the Minister of Interior, Hon Albert Kan Dapaah, on July 4th 2006 commissioned a ministerial fact-finding committee to determine a number of questions of fact. Specifically, the committee was tasked to delve into the following:

-“Determine the person or persons who brought the parcels on board the vessel in the first instance;

-Determine the actual numbers of narcotic drug parcels on the vessel immediately before it was intercepted;

-Determine whether some of the parcels on board the vessel were removed from the vessel before it was intercepted, and if so to establish when and how this happened and to recommend appropriate punishment;

-Determine the whereabouts of the parcels of narcotic drugs, if any which were removed from the vessel;

-Investigate any other issues relating to the loss of the narcotic drugs and make recommendations on how to avoid them in future.”

Comments following the release of the committee’s report by some sections of the public have been very unfortunate, especially viewed against the background from which some of those commentators are coming. For instance, I find as very disturbing for Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, who doubles as a legal practitioner and minority spokesperson on communications to conclude that “ultimately, the whole investigation was a huge failure because the major term of reference was to determine the whereabouts of the missing cocaine”. Going further, he intimated “we are not necessarily interested in who you prosecute but where is the cocaine? That is the fundamental question. Where is the missing cocaine? (Daily Express of Monday, October 2, 2006). Honestly, I find the above comments as petty, especially from such a professed learned person and an honourable member of parliament at that. Who determines what the major term of reference of the committee was? Is Honourable Haruna the appointing authority? I wonder why he chose to limit himself to only an aspect of the committee’s terms of reference. Suffice it to state here that it is for the benefit of him and other like-minded people that I chose to restate the committee’s terms of reference above. It is my considered opinion that instead of rubbishing the committee’s report, it would benefit us as a nation if we took an insightful view of some, if not all of the recommendations made by the committee among which are the following:

9.1 “The Committee recommends that as a matter of urgency, the status of the NACOB be critically examined and enhanced to enable it to meet the growing challenges of the drug trade. The clear evidence is that although it is a multi-disciplinary organization, it is poorly resourced and must therefore be properly resourced if it must play its lead role in the war against the drugs trade.”

9.3 “The Committee finds that although the NACOB had a wealth of information in opportune time, they were completely immobilized by lack of logistics and had to fall on other agencies for logistical support.”

THE GHANA NAVY AND AIR FORCE

11.1 “The Committee finds that though these two institutions were eager and willing to help in the exercise, the operation was principally hampered by lack of logistical constraints. The Committee recommends that a reasonably well resourced AIR FORCE is necessary if the war against the drug is to succeed.”

11.2 “The Committee recommends the examination of other viable options for marine and coastal patrol. An independent well resourced service, dedicated to marine and coastal patrols may prove a better way of ensuring the safety and security of the country’s territorial waters.”

17.1 “Finally, the Committee recommends the public recognition of patriotic acts of its citizens. To this end, the Committee recommends the setting up of a fund for adequately rewarding informants, public officials and others through whose genuine efforts the illegal activities of drug dealers are unearthed. The Committee finally believes that the public condemnation of all acts of drug related wrong doing, as for example the publication of the pictures of convicted persons, would also serve as a deterrent.”

Does some well meaning Ghanaians with no ill-conceived and ulterior political or other motives wish to tell me that the above recommendations by the committee, among others will not inure to the benefit of the nation in our quest to clamp down on the notoriety we are gaining as favourable transit hub and destination zone for drugs and other illicit activities.

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