US to set up drug enforcement agency in Ghana

It has become necessary for the United States Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) to establish offices in Ghana, Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Interior, told Parliament on Wednesday.

He said currently, the agency has an office in Nigeria to cover many West African countries, but with the increasing shipment and trafficking of narcotic drugs to the sub-region, a decision had been taken to make Ghana the head office for some other countries in the region.

The Minister was responding to a question on conditions that have necessitated the proposed opening of such an office in Ghana.

Dr Addo-Kufuor mentioned support to the drug enforcement agencies in the country, the adoption of a more regional approach to the drug menace and the relieving of pressure on the Nigeria office as some reasons for the establishment of the agency in Ghana.

The Minister said it was expected that with establishment of the agency, the United States would not only provide intelligence reports, but would also provide gadgets such as scanners and x-rays to pick up drugs in luggage and those involved in body concealment of these drugs.

The House later took the Lands Commission Bill through the Second Reading stage, with members calling for the strengthening of land administrative structures to bring sanity into the field.

The bill seeks to among others, provide a one-stop-shop for all land related matters in service delivery, including acquisition and protection of land owners, by bringing all land agencies, such as Lands Commission, Lands Valuation Board and Land Title Registry, under one administrative body.

The bill, is the first in a series of legislative processes being undertaking to make land acquisition and use responsive to the country's socio-economic development needs.

Another legislative proposal, a Land Use Bill, is also expected to be bought before the House later.