The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged immediate and coordinated national efforts to tackle illicit drug trafficking and abuse, describing the growing problem as a major national concern and a serious moral crisis. The Bishops said the recent seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine in France, reportedly concealed in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana, highlights the need for enhanced surveillance, monitoring and accountability at the country’s ports, airports and borders.
In a statement, the Conference called for a comprehensive investigation into how such a large consignment of narcotics allegedly moved through legitimate commercial channels. The Bishops commended the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and other state institutions for their efforts to combat the illicit drug trade, while encouraging continued collaboration with French authorities to uncover the full scope of the alleged trafficking network.
They also welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s establishment of an inter-agency task force tasked with addressing the movement of narcotic drugs through Ghana’s ports, airports and borders.
Call to dismantle trafficking networks
The Conference stated that the Dunkirk drug seizure should be seen as part of a broader national challenge, pointing to several narcotics interceptions connected to Ghana in recent years. It also voiced concern over the alleged involvement of individuals entrusted with public responsibility, including government officials and, regrettably, some members of the Church. According to the statement, efforts to combat drug trafficking must target anyone who exploits positions of trust to enable the movement of illicit substances.
The Bishops further called on investigators to go beyond arresting couriers and focus on identifying the financiers and key figures orchestrating the drug trade. They warned that a system in which couriers face prosecution while the networks and masterminds behind them evade accountability highlights a critical weakness that any credible national anti-drug strategy must address.
