A Deputy Information Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa says the Mills-led government has done more in dealing with the drugs menace than the erstwhile Kufuor administration.
At a press conference in Accra to outline “the successes of the NDC” over the last nine months, Mr Ablakwa said the Mills administration is winning the war against drugs trade in the country.
Citing the latest arrests of alleged drug couriers at the Kotoka International Airport and the Tema Port, Mr Okudzeto said “This government is not only demonstrating the required political will but also implementing very key strategies and measures aimed at combating the very disturbing drug problem we inherited as a government.”
“These measures, which include skills training, exposure to modern training techniques in fighting narcotic trade and steps to transform the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) into an autonomous commission are yielding very positive results that Ghanaians are generally very proud of.”
He said, currently, perceptions that some key government officials are into drugs trade are non-existent.
“Today, there is no perception as it was in the past that some powerful people in government may be collaborating with drug barons, and of course, that is enough motivation for our narcotic enforcement teams.”
Mr Ablakwa said, unlike what happened during the Kufuor administration, the clamp down on drugs trade has not created deeper scandals like the disappearance of exhibits.
The deputy minister said government “can confidently report to Ghanaians” that NACOB and national security officials have over the last eight months monitored, traced a number of couriers and smart corroborators who are being further investigated in order to smoke out their pay masters and barons.”
“Of course, structures have been strengthened to ensure that seized exhibits do not either vanish or metamorphosize into some other substance overnight,” he stated.
Mr Ablakwa’s speech was wide-ranging; highlighting what he said has been achievements of the Mills administration in key areas of the economy.
Meanwhile, Mr Okudzeto has given a strong indication that residents of Accra’s biggest slum Agbogbloshie would be relocated, Joy FM’s Araba Koomson reported.
He hinted that government is currently considering proposals to find a place of abode for the slum dwellers who were earlier threatened with eviction with no compensation or relocation.
Government, he said, has also been training persons in petroleum engineering and oil spillage, a move he said would provide adequate human resource for the country’s nascent oil find.
Listen to excerpts of the press conference in the attached audio
Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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