Ghanaians abroad struggle to fend off cocaine tag

A dramatic cocaine bust in the UK involving a Ghanaian woman, and other drug-related issues in connection with Ghana, has placed an unenviable tag on Ghanaians living abroad.

Hitherto, the cocaine label was associated with some African countries other than Ghana, but things have now changed.

A Ghanaian lady, Nayele Ametefeh aka Ruby Adu-Gyamfi at the centre of a raging cocaine scandal was expected to appear before a London court for the first time Thursday, November 27, 2014 after her arrest by UK officials at Heathrow International Airport two weeks ago with 12.5 kg of cocaine.  

The brief hearing, which would be done via video conference, would also take her plea to a charge  attempting to import a class 'A' drug.

Another court in London is also hearing another drug case involving a Ghanaian residing in London.

Joy News' George Wiafe who has been monitoring events at the Isleworth Crown Court in West London that is trying Nayele said a large number of Ghanaians in the UK trooped to the court to witness the proceedings.

Some of them narrated the ordeal they go through for holding a Ghanaian passport because most of them are being perceived as drug carriers due to recent developments, George gathered.

Nana Yaw, a Ghanaian resident in London, told Joy News that although he was not connected to Nayele, he, like many others, are “interested” in the case due to the “collateral damage” of cocaine tag on the country.

He claimed most of them are subjected to intensive scrutiny which are at times “unpleasant” when travelling from one country to another.

Meanwhile, an International Relations expert, Dr. Vladimir Antwi Danso has warned the continued politicization of the drug trade in Ghana is an indication to the international community that Ghana's politics may be thriving on the illicit drug trade.

He said attempts by the country's largest political groupings to gain political advantage by linking their opponents to the drug trade were damaging further, the country's international image. Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com| Isaac Essel | [email protected] | twitter @isaacessel