President John Evans Atta Mills has expressed delight over the reported shortage of cocaine in Ghana, describing the development as an encouraging sign in the fight against drug trafficking. Speaking for the President, Mr Koku Anyidoho, Head of Communications at the presidency, said the reported drop in drug trafficking "is a source of great joy to the President." He said government remains resolute in stopping people from using Ghana as transit corridor for hard drugs, adding that government would ensure that the situation moved from shortage to the total eradication of hard drugs in the country. He said the President considered it as welcome news to both government and all well meaning Ghanaians since the use of Ghana as a transit zone for drugs had tarnished her image. President Mills had pledged to vigorously fight the menace as part of his campaign promise, he said, and consid­ered the reported shortage of drugs a result of increased efforts by the government and the security agencies to plug all loopholes to make it impossible for the drug barons to operate. The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) revealed last week that there was drastic drop in drug trafficking leading to a shortage of the commodity on the market in the country. The Head of NACOB, ACP Robert Ayalingo, among other things, attributed the shortage to intensification of security and control measures in the fight against the menace, adding that investigation indicated that most of the barons have relocated elsewhere. Mr. Anyidoho said the President considered that was an indi­cation that "the environment is no longer conducive for drug business," adding that the situation would be sustained. He said the President was happy that although the fight against drugs was not one of the 100 days in office pledges, the early gains from efforts in that area were beginning to manifest. Mr Ayalingo said Ghana's collaborations like US, Germany, Britain and Holland had given them figures which indicated that, there was a drop in the use of the country as a drug transit point to the outside world. He said though he did not have the specific facts, the indications were that the drug barons had relocated to neighbouring countries. ACP Ayalingo reiterated NACOB's deire to intensify its vigilance to further minimise the drug menace. He disclosed that itemizer machines which can detect drugs con­cealed in the stomach and luggage have been installed at the country's entry points to further boost NACOB's efficiency. Source: Ghanaian Times