GHANA PRODUCES NARCOTIC DRUGS - DR ASARE

Contrary to the assertion that Ghana was just a transit point for
illicit drugs and not a production country, Dr Joseph Bediako Asare,
a member of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) says the
Board suspects there is small scale manufacture of cocaine and heroin
in the country.

He said there was overwhelming evidence of the availability of the
chemicals used in producing illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin and
amphetamine type stimulants in Ghana. These chemicals are used to
refine the coca and opium, which are imported into the country.

"These chemicals come into the country mainly from South Africa and
they come through customs check points all the time but the officers
are not able to detect them," he said.

Dr Asare was speaking to the GNA after the launch of the 2007 INCB
Report, which focuses on Proportionality and Drug Related Offences.

He noted that even though the security agencies were aware of the
availability of the illicit drugs precursor chemicals in the country,
they remained somewhat aloof about it because they thought Ghanaians
were innocent about their availability and use.

"We tend to think that our youth are innocent but they are gradually
getting into the business of drug production and very soon if we do
not stem the influx of the chemicals we will have a big drug problem
on hand," he warned.

Dr. Asare gave the GNA a list of precursor chemicals used in
producing cocaine, heroine and amphetamine type stimulants, which, he
said, were currently available in the country.

He called on the government and its agencies responsible for the
import of certain chemicals for legitimate purposes to do proper
estimates before importing them to ensure that the exact quantities
were imported to prevent excess chemicals from getting into the hands
of the bad nuts.

The report itself confirmed that drug traffickers were using Africa
as a transshipment area for precursors such as ephedrine and
pseudoephedrine used for making amphetamine type stimulants.

"Weak legislation against trafficking in precursor chemicals in most
Africa makes it easy to obtain chemicals for illicit drug manufacture."

It said Interpol estimated that 200-300 tons of cocaine made their
way from Latin America into Europe through West Africa, where it was
stockpiled and repackaged for transport.

The report said West African countries, mainly Ghana, Nigeria and
Cote d'Ivoire lacked the economic means, legislative and
institutional structures to counter the drug challenge effectively.

As a result, Africa currently accounted for 7.6 per cent of all
cocaine abusers in the world and the production and abuse of cannabis
was also on the rise on the continent, the report said.

"Another problem in Africa is the misuse of pharmaceutical
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substance,
which are sold by street vendors and healthcare providers without a
prescription," it said.

The report therefore called on African governments to address the
problem, which had severe consequences on the health of their
population and social fabric.

Dr Asare noted that in focusing on the principle of proportionality
in drug related offences, the report sought to propose measures that
were proportional to the gravity of the drug menace in dealing with
drug related offences.

In that regard, he said, the report recommended the setting up of
special courts for dealing with drug-related cases, saying that
currently 50 per cent of prisoners in Ghana were in jail for drug
related offences.

"We also need acceptable treatment facilities to deal with persons
engaged in drug related offences to ensure better rehabilitation
because our current social welfare system that takes care of such
persons is not effective."

Dr Asare said there was need to be serious about going after
suspected drug barons, investigate, prosecute and jail them where
necessary to deter people from getting into the drug trade.