Sammy Gyamfi says 2018 NACOC removal from port inspections weakened drug checks

GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, says the removal of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from Ghana’s list of Port Inspection Agencies in 2018 weakened the country’s capacity to detect and prevent drug trafficking through its ports. He said the decision, taken in June 2018, undermined the Commission’s port inspection role, despite its mandate to monitor, regulate and enforce laws on narcotics trafficking. “In Ghana, the body mandated to monitor, regulate, enforce and control the trafficking of narcotics is the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC),” he said.

Mr Gyamfi said the reasons for NACOC’s removal remained unclear, but argued that the consequences for drug enforcement were significant. “While it is unclear what may have informed that decision in 2018, it is evident that the said decision weakened NACOC’s port inspection function and denied them the ability to detect and prevent drug trafficking through the country’s ports of entry and exit,” he stated. Call for stronger port security His comments follow a recent drug seizure in another jurisdiction involving a consignment reportedly traced to one of Ghana’s ports.

Mr Gyamfi said the incident underscored the need to strengthen monitoring and inspection systems at the country’s entry and exit points. He welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s reported directive to reinstate NACOC on the list of Port Inspection Agencies and grant the Commission access to all entry and exit points by air, land and sea. “As someone who has closely worked with the Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey-led NACOC in fighting gold-smuggling, I am confident that with the necessary support, NACOC will succeed in stemming this tide,” he said.

GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s reported directive to restore the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to Ghana’s list of Port Inspection Agencies following a recent drug trafficking incident linked to one of the country’s ports. Mr Gyamfi said the development was a matter of concern to patriotic Ghanaians, arguing that the incident raised questions about the effectiveness of monitoring and inspection systems at Ghana’s ports. “Clearly, these incidents could have only been occasioned by weak monitoring and inspection systems at our ports,” he said.

According to him, NACOC, which is mandated to monitor, regulate, enforce and control narcotics trafficking, was removed from the list of Port Inspection Agencies by the government in June 2018. He said the reported decision by President Mahama to restore NACOC to the inspection regime was a welcome development. “It is therefore refreshing to learn that President Mahama has directed that effective immediately, NACOC be restored to the list of Port Inspection Agencies and granted unfettered access to all entry and exit points; by air, land and sea,” he stated.

Mr Gyamfi also said he understood that the President had directed that all scanners and personnel at Ghana’s ports be changed with immediate effect. “I believe that these measures, if implemented effectively, will strengthen checks and control at our ports to forestall the reccurrence of these unfortunate incidents,” he added.