Twelve Deported From USA, Canada

Twelve Ghanaians who were imprisoned for various drugs offences in Canada and the United States of America (USA) have been deported home.

The 12, all males, have since been released after officials of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) had taken their particulars.

They are Nana Nyarko Essilfie, alias Gabriel Essilfie, 25, Alexander Asomani Smith, 44, Stephen Kwesi Adzimah, 53, Alex Opoku Acheampong, alias Theophilus Addo, 47, and Richmond Ocloo, 59.

The others are Kwasi Nti, alias Chester, 47, Eric Yeboah, 41, Zakaria M. Sani, 44, Kofi Awuah, 48, Fred Awuku-Goni, Frank Osei Owusu, 24, and Raymond Akwasi Opoku, 24.

Frank Osei Owusu and Raymond Akwasi Opoku were deported from Canada, while the rest came from the USA.

A source close to NACOB who disclosed this, said many more deportees were expected in a couple of weeks for various drug offences.

It said that should send a signal to all and sundry that all was not rosy in the drug business anywhere.

The source said some of the deportees had been living in the USA for a very long time and wondered why they should be involved in drugs instead of other gainful and respectable endeavours.

It said the story of Kwasi Nti, who was a cab driver in the USA, was quite pathetic in the sense that the police arrested a passenger in his car carrying drugs.

It said although Nti did not know the suspect and was undertaking his normal duties, he was charged for conspiracy and jailed accordingly.

The source wondered why Ghanaians after struggling to travel abroad would be indulging in such negative practices which tended to soil the image of the country.