This 'Acquittal' Is Unacceptable!

I would like, respectfully, to draw the attention of President John Mahama to an issue that will detract from the respect that certain nations ought to accord our country.

This is the apparent abandonment, by the Ghana prosecution authorities, of the case brought against the persons who allegedly assisted a cocaine smuggler, Ms Nayele Ametefe, in the enterprise that earned her a jail sentence of over eight years, in the United Kingdom. She was convicted of transporting 12.5 kilos of cocaine to the UK, after she pleaded guilty top the charge against her.

The 32-year-old Ametefe's arrest and trial were widely publicised, and when it became apparent that some individuals in charge of the VVIP/VIP Lounge of Kotoka international airport had assisted her to use the Lounge to smuggle her stuff, the government of Ghana became concerned enough about the implications of that allegation, as to request the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) to get to the bottom of the matter. Even the President of the Republic himself felt obliged to make a comment on the issue, at one point.

The BNI did arrest certain persons and arraign them, through the prosecution authorities, before a court in Accra. However, as the case progressed, signs appeared from the course of the prosecution effort that the State was faltering in its attempt to get the accused persons convicted. The BNI must have looked on in despair - and must have been driven to heights of cynicism - when it noticed the desultory manner in which the case was progressing.

Now, everyone in Ghana knows that our prosecution authorities are faced with enormous difficulties relating to resources. Sometimes, witnesses the police are expected to produce before the courts, fail to turn up.

Nevertheless, these difficulties ought to have been overcome  at all costs  in this case. This is because the case affected  the honour and integrity of every Ghanaian citizen, including those privileged to use the VIP/VVIP Lounges.

For if a young lady of no known  eminence  whatsoever had been allowed to use the privileges accorded to 'important' Ghanaians, and had thereby managed to export cocaine out of the country, then how much more those who are actually important? Such as ministers, heads of the civil and public services, and other persons whom Ghanaians hold in high esteem? They would all come  under suspicion , when they arrived abroad to carry out duties on behalf of our country.

The United Kingdom, in particular, has, even before Ms Ametefe's offence, shown itself to be very disrespectful of Ghanaian nationals arriving at its airports. I recounted, at the time of Ms Ametefe's arrest, how a huge Alsatian dog was once set upon me as I walked towards Heathrow Immigration. Now, I have owned Alsatian dogs, and know that they can be fearsome, even when they are acting friendly! For an Alsatian to be let loose peremptorily on one is therefore a most frightening experience. I mean, if they wanted to search me, why not call me over and allow the dog to sniff me while it was held on a chain?

I suffered this cruelty because, of course, the UK authorities have accurate evidence that some Ghanaians transport cocaine to the UK. The point for the UK authorities to note, however, is this: if there were no market for illegal drugs in the UK, would people from outside the UK attempt to take drugs there? Are those who peddle drugs in the UK brutalised in the way I was brutalised, by setting fearsome Alsatian dogs on them?

In spite of all that, our government  does owe us a primary duty  of protecting us, both our physical selves and psychologically, from 'invasion' by foreigners. So, if our government carries out actions capable of  prejudicing  UK police, immigration or customs authorities against us, we should not just sit tight and 'give the matter to God'.

By showing what, at the most charitable level, can only be described as a lack of seriousness in attempting to secure a conviction against the persons who allegedly assisted Ms Ametefe to carry out her illegal activities, Ghana's prosecution authorities have reinforced the view, most probably held by the UK authorities, that the Ghana government is not serious about preventing narcotic drugs from being shipped from Ghana overseas.

True, no excuse may be needed, but if such an impression does continue to gain ground amongst the UK's Customs and Immigration authorities, it will be harmful to ALL Ghanaians who travel from Ghana to the UK. And that is unacceptable, because there  are many  Ghanaian travellers who would rather die than go near cocaine, heroin or marijuana. Yet, the illegal activities of a few smugglers are being used to taint us all with the horrendous brush of being drug smugglers.

It could be argued that we should retaliate by inciting our government to set Alsatian dogs on British nationals who arrive at Kotoka Airport. But not all Britons take part in formulating the policies that can lead to innocent Ghanaians being treated with disrespect at British airports. What is just, and which we must do, is to wave a red flag before OUR own government and say, 'Allowing the alleged collaborators of convicted cocaine smugglers to go free is not acceptable because it creates the impression that Ghana does not take the fight against cocaine smuggling seriously.'

If our government demonstrates its seriousness, and yet the harassment of Ghanaian travellers continues, then the struggle ought to move to another level.

I therefore urge the President to order the Attorney-General to take over the case personally; appeal against the acquittals; and carry out a more vigorous prosecution of the individuals concerned, at a higher court.

By Cameron Duodu
www.cameronduodu.com