Ghana has been ranked the third cocaine transit destination in Africa behind Nigeria and South Africa respectively.
According to the 2016 World Drug Report by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the illegal shipment of cocaine comes from South America en route to Europe and Brazil.
The report again named Ghana as among the top four countries in Africa reported as the source of cannabis herb to Europe.
Roger Vanderpuije, the Greater-Accra Regional Commander at the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), disclosed this at the 2017 World Drug Day celebration in Accra.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Listen First’ (listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe). He consequently urged government to take appropriate steps to curb this menace.
“I humbly call on the government, as a matter of urgency, to pass the Narcotics Control Commission Bill 2015 to give NACOB more powers to effectively do their work,” he stated.
Vanderpuije explained that La Dade-Kotopon Municipality was chosen to mark this year’s World Drug Day as a result of intelligence picked on the ground about the increasing rate at which the youth are engaging in illicit drug abuse, especially cannabis in the community.
According to him, the office has started sensitisation programmes in the community by engaging the schools, various churches and the general public in the community.
“It is the hope of the office that the government resource the board in the discharge of its activities and we also call on the donor community to support our work.
“We call on everybody to be part of this crusade against drug abuse and illicit drug trafficking because it is destroying our children, the society and denting the image of the country internationally,” he added.
Vanderpuije said this year’s theme gives greater responsibility to parents, guardians, religious leaders, governments and the civil society to work towards the fight against drug abuse and addiction among the youth for a better future.
The success of any nation is in the hands of its future generations hence our duty to listen to them and offer them the needed attention, support and advice.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of La Dade-Kotopon, Mrs Gladys Mann-Dedery, pledged to partner NACOB to help put a stop to drug abuse in her municipality.
“I do not want to see any of you here in a poor state and my prayer is that in future you all will excel and contribute to the development of the country,” she said.
Richard Opare, an ex-drug addict, advised the students to stay away from drugs. He used his life as an ex-drug addict to advice all students against the use of drugs as it would only destroy their lives and make them miserable.
Logosu Amegashie, the head of Addictive Disease Unit at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, advised students to desist from taking drugs as well as shun peers pressure to use drugs since it harmful and destroys lives.
He advised the students to stay away from marijuana if they wanted to be very responsible and resourceful to their families and the country in future
Stanley Eyivor, the Divisional Supervisor for Enforcement at NACOB urged students to listen to their parents and teachers and also advised parents to draw close to their children.
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, in a message called for commitment to reduce drug abuse, illicit trafficking and the harm that drugs cause, and to ensure that our approach promotes equality, human rights, sustainable development, and greater peace and security.
He said Portugal now has one of the lowest death rates for drug use in Europe.
“In 2001, Portugal had the highest rate of HIV amongst injecting drug users in the region; since the introduction of the new policy, this rate, and rates of all sexually transmitted diseases, have decreased dramatically. Overall drug use rates have also fallen” he said.
Despite the risks and challenges inherent in tackling this global problem, he said “I hope and believe we are on the right path, and that together, we can implement a coordinated, balanced and comprehensive approach that leads to sustainable solutions”.
Source: The Finder
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Is this an inherited legacy? We must all help to fight this canker for the sake of the Youth of Ghana.
this drug pushing is not done by poor or ordinary people but eeeemmmm they know themselves.
what is going on in Ghana? our security apparatus is very weak. This should have been the first attention of any of the government. Instead of that $13million which is been used to build that unnecessary building to house the vice president of the country, that money could have been used to invest into the country's security. Misplaced priorities. Where are the people with brains in the country?
phuck the nacob, stewpiiiiiid organization. they only bring news up to stay relevant in the system. kwashiyayi, the same big men governing us know who and who are into drugs. ***barred word*** with big big schoold degrees robbing the poor thru taxes and shaming the country. i sometimes even wonder why kwame sefa kayi is able to deal with these crooks and liars on his platform for years, coz like me the punches alone they might not show up again. people hate the truth , they only speak inside their rooms and pretend when in public. its a fake phuckn world we live in . trust me if we are to go legit on all government institution, people will run from politics and alot of stuff, not to forget how they fund money for election shirts, bribing delegates,fuel, trucks, suv`s . i respect kennedy agyapong coz he made his money thru the hard way. you could tell if we had 10 of him in this country, the youth like myself will have a great future and for the ones not yet born. god bless gh and curse the wicked robbing from the poor to enrich themselves. yall ***barred word*** should know death and judgement await we all. what they bore me xaf bi sey, when u meet them, i went to this school, i have phd , diploma who cares??? kwasiya kos3nyo go on and shove it off ur butt. i hope u tell me about ur diplomas and phd in the next world too.
SAD! A country labelled as a Christian nation with mighty men of God hosting a yearly 31st December all night services with millions been filled by the holy spirit. Yet the Greedy & wanting to be wealthy over night is killing this society. My prayer is Lord EXPOSE all these criminals using those residing in Ghana.....