2011 INCB report launched
Takoradi, Feb.29, GNA - Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, on Tuesday pledged Government's commitment to tackling the drug menace in the country.
He said Government has raised the bar on the fight against drugs in terms of supply, control and demand.
Mr Aidoo made the promise in an address read on his behalf at the launch of the 2011 Annual Report of the International Narcotic Control Board (INCB) on the theme: "The Youth have the right to be protected from drug abuse and dependence", at Takoradi.
He appealed to non-governmental organizations (NGO) to support the fight against drug, and called for the establishment of a special fund to be managed solely by NGOs and supervised by the National Narcotic Control Board (NACOB).
Mr Aidoo said last year's report on the four Psychiatric Hospitals in the country, indicate 2,909 drug-related cases out of the 19,254 general attendances of patients.
"This constitutes 15 per cent, which the Government considers too high and is determined to reduce it to the minimum by giving the NACOB the clearance to recruit more qualified personnel to augment its current staff strength", Mr. Aidoo said.
Nana Mcdonald Dei, an official of the NACOB, said according to the report, drug propelled crimes, such as sexual assault, needed to be dealt with.
He said criminals were increasingly turning using "Designer" chemicals for the illicit manufacture of amnhetamine stimulants, which were equally dangerous to users.
Nana Dei said the West Africa sub-region, has been tagged by the INCB as a source of methamphetamine, found in illicit markets in other countries.
He said traffickers use the sub-region including Ghana, as conduit for the importation and diversion of drugs.
Nana Dei said legally imported ephedrine and pseudo ephedrine were diverted for the illicit manufacture of methamphetaome, which could be more devastating than known notorious hard drugs.
Mr. Ransford Ninson, Western Regional Police Commander, said the region recorded 81 narcotic cases last year, as against 50 cases in 2010.