ABSTRACT
This study examines the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan and the Fight against Illicit Drug Trafficking in Ghana. It throws light on perceived challenges associated with controlling the drug situation in the country. Additionally, it analyses policy interventions, implemented to deal with drug trafficking and then finally, projects some achievements of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan in Ghana and suggests measures for improvement. Using the case of security personnel from Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Ghana Police Service (GPS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MoFARI), a qualitative research approach was used to conduct personnel interviews with drug enforcement officers. The results indicated that Narcotics Control Board is the central coordinating body in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in Ghana. The results portray the lack of political will from government, low budget allocation to law enforcement institutions, personnel and logistic constraints, corruption and lack of collaboration and information sharing are some of the challenges faced by the security agencies in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in Ghana. The result further unravels the expansion of Narcotics Control Board, the introduction of demand reduction, establishment of specialist units at the Airports and the Harbours as well as collaboration with international agencies. It also highlights on organizations of training and operation programmes, creation of data collection centers and provision of logistics as some of the major achievements of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan. Finally, the study recommends quality training exercises, collaboration of regional and international organizations in the fight against drug trafficking and provision of modern logistics from both government and the ECOWAS.
CHAPTER ONE BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Introduction
Drug trafficking is a worldwide menace which involves the cultivation, production, distribution and trade in illicit substances barred by law.1 Several countries on the continent have developed numerous strategies in the drug trade. Countries such as Bolivia, Columbia and Peru, in South America, are well noted for the cultivation of the Coca plant used for the production of Cocaine. The Golden Triangle and Golden Crescent, which include countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and other countries from South East Asia are well known for the production of Heroin. On the other hand, Cannabis can be cultivated in most parts of the world especially Mexico in Central America and Ghana in West African sub-region.2
Drug trafficking has become one of the transnational security threats to the world. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC, 2008) estimated that drug business generated an income of US$ 500 billion per year in the late nineties and almost doubled at the beginning of the 21st century.3 The production, distribution and utilization of illicit drugs including Cocaine, Cannabis, Heroin among others have attained international concern over the years.4 With new anti-drug and anti-laundering measures put in place by European countries and the United States, traffickers have sought reliable midway transit routes to their destination countries. Mostly, drug traffickers utilize the Eastern and Western part of Africa as their transit routes for trafficking drugs.5
West Africa, was, hitherto, not a traditional drug trafficking avenue, however, due to enhanced border security checks in the developed world, drug cartels have capitalized on weak states, weak security systems and unapproved geographical locations of the Atlantic
ocean and the Gulf of Guinea. The World Drug Report 2017 issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) indicated that Ghana and Nigeria are among the most frequently mentioned countries of origin in Africa for Cocaine trafficking. This is because West African leaders fail to give strict operational sanctions to defaulters of the law as a result of corruption and lack of effective institutions to operate on these laws.
Yury Fedotov, the Executive Director of UNODC in 2012, affirmed that about 30 tons of Cocaine and 400 kilograms of Heroin were smuggled through West Africa in 2011.6 Drug seizures have been reported in most African countries; there have been an overwhelming seizure in Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, to mention a few. Due to this, the Regional body (Economic Community of West African States) realized the adverse consequences and enervating impingement of this menace to the stability and economic progression of the region. To cope with the evolving challenge of the abuse of drugs, illegal means of drug trafficking as well as Organized Crime, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) initiated a Regional Action Plan from 2008-2011 (hereinafter the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan). The Plan was adopted at the ECOWAS Ministerial Conference held in 2008 in Cape Verde with help from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Union (EU) and the United Nations office for West Africa (UNOWA).
On 27th and 28th February 2013, the Ivorian government together with Authority of Heads of State within ECOWAS extended the duration of the Regional Action Plan by two years.7 On 5th September 2016, ECOWAS Ministers of Justice and Interior prolonged the Regional Action Plan which is now the ECOWAS Drug Action Plan from the year 2016 to 2020.
Furthermore, it can be concluded that the collective goal of the Regional Action Plan is to facilitate the limitation of Organized crime in West Africa, the effect of drug abuse as well as drug trafficking.8
The objective of the study is to gradually establish a sustained regional capacity to monitor, coordinate and harmonize drug policies in West Africa with four main out comes.
These are: to increase its support in the area of monitoring and coordination capacity, to promote policies and advocacy undertaken in the West African sub-region, to promote information sharing of practices and experiences which will enable the emergence of more specialized expertise in drug prevention and treatment in West Africa and finally, improve national institution and legal frameworks to encourage sub-regional, regional and international collaborations.
Statement of the Problem
Research conducted in the West African sub-region indicated a worrying situation in the areas of consuming and trans-shipment of hard drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin and Methamphetamine.9 A valuation of 183,000 (range: 95,000-226,000) deaths related to drugs were recorded in 2012. The figure above translates to a mortality rate of 40.0 (range: 20.8- 49.3) Some 450,000 people were reported dead for drug abuse in 2015.10 The inimical consequences of drug trafficking on the individual may include psychological effects, stigmatization from society and the family and health risks which may lead to death. This tarnishes the image of countries as well as affects human resources within the region. However, there is scarcity in the area of research literature to fully comprehend the efforts being made by countries and the Regional body to combat the drug trade. Various literature on narcotic substances in the sub-region has been from a policy perspective.
The study delves into the achievements and challenges faced in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in West Africa since the inception of the ECOWAS Action Plan from 2010 to 2018, using the case of Ghana.
Research Questions
- What are the various challenges that confront law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking?
- What are some of the policy interventions implemented by the government to deal with drug trafficking in the country?
- What are some of the measures needed to improve the ECOWAS Action Plan in Ghana?
- What are the achievements of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan in the fight against drug trafficking in Ghana?
Research Objectives
With the purpose of this study slated at exploring the Action Plan as well as fight against issues of illicit trafficking of drugs in Ghana, the following objectives were formulated:
- Examine perceived challenges linked with controlling drug trafficking in the Ghana.
- Describe policy interventions implemented to fight drug trafficking in Ghana.
- Examine some measures to improve the ECOWAS Action Plan in Ghana.
- To offer suggestions as recommendations for improving ECOWAS counter drug in West Africa.
Rationale
Organizations such Ghana Police Service (GPS) and Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) tasked to analyze the challenges of drug trafficking in the country, lack informational and institutional capacity to identify and address the growing problem. It is envisaged that the findings of the study will provide policy direction to government and the ECOWAS in remolding the Action Plan on Organized crime, Illicit Drug Trafficking and Abuse of drugs.
Furthermore, this initiative will assist the country in projecting policies and laws that will act as a check on offenders who flaunt them.
