OFDFA Calls For Dismissal Of NACOB Boss And Deputy

The Organisation For Drugs-Free Africa (OFDFA) has called for the immediate dismissal of the Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Mr. Yaw Akrasi Sarpong and his deputy, Richard Nii Lante Blankson, over the Nayele Ametefe drugs saga. Nayele Ametefe was arrested at the London Heathrow Airport on November 10 this year, carrying l2.5kg of Cocaine. A statement issued in Accra and signed by the Executive Director of the Organisation, Mr Evans Aduse-Poku, said the arrest of the drug baron at the London Heathrow Airport has deeply dented Ghana's international image within the comity of nations. "We are at a loss to comprehend why an Anti-Drugs Law Enforcement Agency in Ghana should try to claim credit for giving a tip-off to its British partners to arrest a suspected drug trafficker in London and not at its operational base in Ghana. We have had too many of such cover-ups in the past and the time has now come for the sacking of the two men at the helms of affairs at NACOB," the statement added. The British government has meanwhile made it categorically clear that it acted alone in making the arrest, and never received any tip-off from NACOB, and further added that "any potential drug trafficker to the UK from Ghana is arrested here in Ghana and not permitted to board a flight in order to traffic drugs." The Organisation however, appealed to the Ghanaian social media not to politicize the matter and allow government ample time to continue with investigations to unmask all collaborators in what has now become known in the local parlance as "Nayele Gate." The Organisation commends the President John Dramani Mahama for acting swiftly by dissolving the Governing Board of NACOB. "The dissolution of the NACOB Board by the President should not end there without action against those who have been given the responsibility of handling the day to-day affairs of this all-important state institution," the statement added. "Two and half years ago, NACOB Mafia operatives at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) turned a blind eye and succeeded in allowing a cartel to haul cocaine out of Ghana to the United Kingdom only for the suspects to be nabbed at the Heathrow Airport in London. We have had enough of these Gestapo operations of the NACOB Mafia group at KIA which is a clear threat to our national security and image." The Organisation said Ghana cannot continue to have more of such future "Nayelegate." The President should not spare the rod in dealing with top officials of NACOB and their collaborators. EVANS ADUSE POKU (Executive Director)