Narcotics Control Board (Ghana)
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Narcotics Control Board
|nativename =
|nativename_a =
|nativename_r =
|logo =
|logo_width =180px
|logo_caption =Logo of the Narcotics Control Board, Ghana
|seal =
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|formed = 1993
|preceding1 =
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|dissolved =
|superseding =
|jurisdiction = Republic of Ghana
|headquarters = {{Flag|Ghana}}
|employees =
|budget =
|minister1_name =
|minister1_pfo =
|minister2_name =
|minister2_pfo =
|chief1_name = Francis Torkornoo
|chief1_position =Acting Executive Secretary
|chief2_name =
|chief2_position =
|parent_agency = Ministry of Interior (Ghana)
|child1_agency =
|child2_agency =
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The Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) is a Ghanaian agency under the Ministry of Interior.{{cite web|title=Narcotics Control Board|url=http://mint.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=41|publisher=www.mint.gov.gh|accessdate=7 May 2011|archive-date=22 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110822015603/http://mint.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29&Itemid=41|url-status=live}} It is the agency concerned with the formulation and enforcement of narcotics laws in the country. The board's work is aimed at preventing the use, import, and export of narcotics.
Functions
The agency has three main functions, supervised by the Interior Ministry. The functions consist of the following:
- Enforcement and control of narcotic control laws in the country
- Education and prevention of the use of narcotics
- Treatment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of narcotic addicts.
The board regularly has inspectorates at various entry points of the country, particularly airports and seaports. Regular sweeps are conducted on marine vessels and on passengers at airports as part of security checks.During these inspections, if any suspected narcotic products are found, they are confiscated by the board and tested to determine their substance. The offenders are then brought before the courts to face legal proceedings. The confiscated narcotic products are subsequently destroyed to prevent their redistribution. One such burning was done in June 2010 when the board destroyed 167 kilograms of seized cocaine at the Teshie Shooting Range in Accra.{{cite web|title=Narcotics control board burns 167 kilos of cocaine|url=http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/201006/48206.asp|publisher=news.myjoyonline.com|accessdate=7 May 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630174028/http://news.myjoyonline.com/news/201006/48206.asp|archivedate=30 June 2010}}
In 2009, NACOB announced a one-year campaign "to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of illicit drugs on the economic, social, political and cultural aspects of the country and its security."{{cite web |url=http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2009/06/Ghana-launches-activities-to-mark-International-Day-against-Drug-Abuse-and-Illicit-Trafficking.aspx |title=Ghana launches activities to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking |author= |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=United Nations Information Centres |accessdate=8 May 2011 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726155742/http://unic.un.org/imu/recentActivities/post/2009/06/Ghana-launches-activities-to-mark-International-Day-against-Drug-Abuse-and-Illicit-Trafficking.aspx |url-status=live }} The campaign's theme was "Do Drugs Control Your Life?", and it featured movie screenings, TV and radio discussions, and competitions for paintings and essays. The campaign was targeted primarily at high-school juniors and seniors.
Collaborations with other agencies
NACOB forms partnerships with other agencies both in and outside of Ghana. One such collaboration led to the formation of the Operation West Bridge project in 2007, which was introduced at Ghana's Kotoka International Airport by the UK government. This collaboration has led to the interception of illicit drugs worth 214 million British pounds since its inception.{{cite web|title=Illicit drugs worth £214 million seized at Kotoka International Airport|url=http://www.ghanatoghana.com/Ghanahomepage/tag/narcotics-control-board-narcob-of-ghana|publisher=www.ghanatoghana.com|accessdate=7 May 2011|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321002621/http://www.ghanatoghana.com/Ghanahomepage/tag/narcotics-control-board-narcob-of-ghana|archivedate=21 March 2012}}
Successes
NACOB in combating narcotic drug trafficking organizes training programmes for its staff and gathers intelligence on the illicit drug trade.{{cite web|title=Ghana Excels In Combating Drugs Trafficking|url=http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=951%3Aghana-excels-in-combating-drugs-trafficking&Itemid=210|publisher=www.ghana.gov.gh|accessdate=8 May 2011|archive-date=20 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320031643/http://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=951:ghana-excels-in-combating-drugs-trafficking&Itemid=210|url-status=live}} The result of these has been a reduction in the illicit drug trade. One of the board's successes came in 2004 when the Customs Office of the United Kingdom commended the board for seizing 42 kilograms of cocaine concealed in sacks of rice imported from Guyana at Tema Port in two 20-foot containers in September 2003.{{cite web|title=UK Customs congratulates Ghana Narcotic Control Board|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/47153/1/uk-customs-congratulates-ghana-narcotic-control-bo.html|publisher=www.modernghana.com|accessdate=7 May 2011|archive-date=7 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007130446/http://www.modernghana.com/news/47153/1/uk-customs-congratulates-ghana-narcotic-control-bo.html|url-status=live}}
Challenges
Problems that faces the board include the lack of adequate resources as well as remuneration for law enforcement personnel.{{Cite news|url=http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/narcotics-use-highest-in-la-dade-kotopon-municipality.html|title=Ghana news: Narcotics use highest in La Dade-Kotopon Municipality - Graphic Online|last=Bonney|first=Emmanuel|work=Graphic Online|access-date=2017-08-03|language=en-GB|archive-date=2022-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403135509/https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/narcotics-use-highest-in-la-dade-kotopon-municipality.html|url-status=live}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Ministries and Agencies in Ghana}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1993 establishments in Ghana
Category:Drug control law enforcement agencies
Category:Government agencies established in 1993