A member of the NDC Communications Team, Richard Manuribe, has called for a non-partisan and coordinated national response to concerns over cocaine trafficking and other narcotics linked to Ghana, warning that the issue poses a threat to the country’s security, institutions and international reputation.
According to Manuribe, cocaine trafficking should not be treated merely as a political matter between the governing party and the opposition. He argued that Ghana must focus on strengthening its institutions and finding lasting solutions rather than allowing partisan interests to dominate the debate.
His comments come amid heightened public discussion over major international narcotics seizures reportedly linked to consignments originating from Ghana on Kessben Maakye show in Accra.
Taking a swipe on the Minority’s recent request for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into how such consignments were processed, inspected, cleared and exported, he explained that, Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected the motion, because its scope substantially overlapped with ongoing criminal investigations and court proceedings and could prejudice those cases.
Manuribe maintained that concerns about the country’s ports and border entry points deserve serious attention, while stressing that Ghana itself does not produce cocaine.
He also pointed to arrests and ongoing prosecutions as evidence that state institutions are acting, and cautioned against creating the impression that nothing is being done.
Manuribe further urged political actors to be measured in their public commentary, arguing that the way Ghana communicates about the narcotics issue could affect international cooperation and the willingness of foreign partners to share intelligence.
He called for inter-agency cooperation, stronger border controls and a national approach to tackling drug trafficking and money laundering, insisting that the fight against narcotics must rise above partisan politics.
