I wish to respond to the above-captioned news which appeared on Ghanaweb on May 14, 2008. Even though the whole news contained myriads of issues from the ‘new face’ of the NDC to the issue of drugs, I would like to comment on the drug subject.
First and foremost, I must state emphatically how elated I am that the NPP has finally found time to respond to the rumours and allegations of drug dealing and, in some cases, drug use among its top hierarchy.
For me in particular, the issue of drugs invading our country cast a huge slur on the image of Ghana and I share in that corporate image and cannot afford not to talk about it. I have been made aware that Ghana, which used to be called the Gold Coast, is now referred to as the ‘Coke Coast’ and this is serious enough to engage our attention as a nation, especially in a time like this when we are looking for the number one man who can steer our country out of this disgraceful image and restore the dignity of her people in the comity of nations.
Secondly, it is surprising that the NPP chairman wants Ghanaians to believe that when the disgraced MP for Nkoranza North, Eric Amoateng, was arrested for dealing in drugs his party did not stand by him. He should go back to the historical records to read the statement issued by his own party in connection with Eric Amoateng’s arrest in the United States of America. He should further ask for footages of videotapes covering the debates on privileges and emoluments of Eric Amoateng which were still being paid to him. I hope this will help Mac Manu to reposition himself particularly with regards to the matter of whether the NPP has the moral authority to be telling Ghanaians under whose watch drug trafficking was ‘glorified’ as a business. Indeed, many Ghanaians believe that if Eric Amoateng, Andrew Jonah and others had been arrested in Ghana, they would have walked away freemen.
Thirdly, many Ghanaians who listened to the Public Affairs Officer of the British High Commission about three months ago would agree that he was emphatic about the complicity of Ghana’s security services in facilitating the booming trade from Aflao to Kwame Nkrumah’s Nzema and beyond. According to him, they had signed an agreement to train and assist the Ghana’s security services to upgrade their capacity in confronting the menace. Interesting when their intelligence officers were in Accra, the drugs would stop passing through the ports. But as soon as they returned to the UK, the dugs would start flowing wawawa! In his estimation, there was official complicity!
He further stressed that punishment for those involved in the trade who are arrested is another area where he thinks much is not been done to punish offenders to serve as a deterrent for would-be traffickers.
Fourthly, it must be placed on record that the mysterious disappearance of about two tons of Cocaine in a police exhibit room at the police headquarters has finally destroyed the image of the Ghana Police Service and its top hierarchy not only in the eyes of Ghanaians but internationally.
Mr. Mac Manu, the security apparatus of this country under the NDC was not made up of only NDC members who had always condoned with the NDC government in covering-up drug cases. Consider the political situation in Ghana before you took power and you would realize that if there had been such a situation, it would have provided the NPP with very good ammunition to assail the NDC.
Last but not the least, a trip around our trotro stations reveals that we are already a consuming country and not only a transit point. Take a trip around the trotro stations and you would understand what Ghanaians are talking about. We want a leader with absolute commitment to fight this menace.
Over to you Mr. Mac Manu!
Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.