NDC Ploy To Smear NPP Of Drugs Backfires - Aide To Nana Addo

Aide to the flag-bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Samuel Abu Jinapor says the agenda by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to smear the NPP of narcotics have backfired. He noted that the ruling party ploy to use the fight against the narcotics to score cheap political point ahead of the 2012 general elections has been flawed by the recent arrest of persons alleged to be involved in the drug trade including officials of the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB). The Narcotics Control Board on Tuesday August 23, 2011 confirmed the arrested of 11 members of the NACOB for allegedly aiding drug traffickers at the Kotoka International Airport. The suspects from NACOB were alleged to have helped drug traffickers to smuggle drugs to Europe and the United States for a fee. Speaking on Asempa FM on Wednesday, Abu Jinapor stated that arresting people alleged to have been engaged in the narcotic trade is not a basis to conclude that a particular government condoned the drug business. He asked whether it would be legitimate for the NPP to also brand Ghana a cocaine coast under the NDC just because officials from NACOB have been arrested for aiding and abetting in the narcotic trade. Abu Jinapor noted that, the mere fact the drug trafficker who blew the cover of the NACOB officials was arrested in Europe indicates how porous the borders of the country have become under the NDC. The aide to Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo took a swipe at the Executive Director of NACOB, Akrasi Sarpong who claimed he was on �red alert� on political parties intending to fund their 2012 campaign with proceeds from the illicit drug trade but appeared not to be on top of issues pertaining to the fight against narcotics. He blamed Akrasi Sarpong for the conduct of his staff whom instead of arresting suspects rather assisted them for a fee to the detriment of the country. Abu Jinapor urged the government to as a matter of urgency solve the challenges and constraints which impede the work of NACOB.