Loopholes at Ghana’s ports and entry points have turned the country into an attractive transit hub for international drug cartels, according to security analyst Adib Saani.
The Executive Director of the Jatikay Centre for Human Security and Climate Change believes the ongoing cocaine controversy exposes a troubling failure on the part of state institutions mandated to safeguard the nation’s borders.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem, Mr Saani argued that criminal syndicates are exploiting systemic weaknesses in Ghana’s security architecture. He maintained that cartels would avoid the country entirely if its border surveillance and port security were sufficiently robust.
“If our security architecture were strong enough, drug traffickers would not even consider Ghana as a viable route for their operations,” Mr Saani stated. “They are taking advantage of the clear loopholes within our ports and borders, making our country far too appealing as a transit point.”
Mr Saani also raised red flags over the pattern of recent narcotics busts, noting that the majority of major interceptions linked to Ghana are happening abroad rather than locally. While acknowledging existing international legal frameworks and cross-border cooperation in fighting illicit trade, he questioned the efficiency of domestic intelligence and security operations.
“It is deeply concerning that despite international arrangements, most of these arrests are being effected outside our jurisdiction,” he said. “That alone raises serious questions about the effectiveness of our internal security operations.”
He warned that Ghana risks facing recurring drug-related scandals unless authorities undertake urgent, decisive reforms within the agencies overseeing border and port security. Calling for greater accountability and tighter inter-agency coordination, Mr Saani stressed that half-measures will no longer suffice in protecting the country from transnational narcotics networks.
“Until we see bold changes among those tasked with securing our entry points, these challenges will persist,” he added.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
