Speaking at the Regional High-Level Dialogue on Drug Market in West Africa in Accra, Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak stressed the urgent need for collective action against the alarming rise of synthetic drugs and cocaine trafficking in the region.
“In West Africa, the nature of drug trafficking and consumption has changed dramatically and rapidly. Synthetic drugs are appearing where they once never existed, and traditional cocaine routes are mutating with astonishing agility,” the Minister stated.
He outlined Ghana’s three-pronged approach to tackling the issue, including strengthening operational readiness, placing the human being at the center of the drug response, and reinforcing cooperation among stakeholders.
“We must strengthen operational readiness, enhance surveillance, and modernize investigative tools. We must also prioritize prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration, and reinforce cooperation among agencies and countries,” he emphasized.
The Minister’s remarks underscored the need for collective action, stating, “Our citizens are not asking us to deliver eloquent speeches. They are expecting us to take decisions that shield their children, protect their borders, and strengthen their institutions.”
On his part, the Netherlands Minister for Justice and Security, Hon. Foort Van Oosten, emphasized the need for international collaboration to tackle the global problem of drug trafficking, stating that “no country can defeat drug trafficking alone, but together we can.”
The Minister reaffirmed the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting programmes aimed at addressing issues of organised crime emphasizing that the fight against transnational crime is key. “We will continue to put measures in place to address the situation,” the Minister stated.
The conference aimed to shape a more coordinated and resilient response to the drug threat in West Africa, with participants expected to make commitments towards measurable action at borders, communities, and agencies.
