Security analyst Andrews Asiedu-Tetteh has proposed a programme of regular drug testing for security officers, with a particular focus on the Ghana Police Service.
He recommends that authorities conduct these tests every six months to ensure that officers found struggling with substance abuse are either sanctioned or interdicted.
Mr Tetteh’s proposal comes as a reaction to concerns recently raised by the minister for the interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.
The minister claimed that there are currently officers within the service battling drug-related and mental health problems.
Consequently, he emphasised the need to ensure that new recruits are drug-free and mentally sound before they are officially inducted.
While Mr Tetteh acknowledged that strict recruitment screening is a positive step, he argued that authorities must also address internal rot.
He noted that many officers enter the service without any history of substance abuse but eventually become addicts after being influenced by senior officers who are already using drugs.
Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has maintained that the ongoing recruitment process must follow structured systems that minimise human interference to ensure fairness.
He stated that the rigorous screening processes are necessary to prevent individuals with serious challenges, including drug abuse or mental health issues, from entering the security services in the first place.
Regarding the current state of the service, the minister stated, “We are having a challenge with people with mental issues in the service. We have people with drug issues in the service. All these things are things that you use, and through that, some people will fall along the way to enable us to get the best of the best. So, I know a lot of young people may be disappointed, but they should exercise restraint.”
Andrews Asiedu Tetteh reiterated that while the minister’s focus on recruits is good, the primary focus should be on those already serving and abusing illegal substances.
He provided further context on the internal culture, stating, “The issues raised by the minister concerning drugs are true. Statistics show that about 60 per cent of police officers who use drugs started after joining the service and learnt from those already doing it. To address this, we should initiate drug testing exercises every six months and punish those doing it. We can either interdict them or sanction them. There are officers who enter ‘wee ghettos’ with their uniforms, and so others have started doing it.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana