Robbery has decreased, according to police
Story: Mary Mensah
THE incidence of robbery declined in the country for the first half of this year, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Deputy Commissioner of Police Prosper Agblor, has stated.
He said a total of 584 robbery incidents were recorded from January to June, this year as against 684 recorded last year, representinga decrease of14.6 per cent.
Addressing the press in Accra yesterday, Mr Agblor said statistics indicated that averagely three cases of armed robbery were recorded daily from January to June, 2011.
He said the Ashanti Region topped the list with 176 robbery incidents, followed closely by Greater Accra, 113;Â Central with 94, Tema, 56; Brong Ahafo, 34; followed by the other regions, with the Upper East recording the least of four.
He said 191 persons connected with robberies were arrested over the period and 14 lives were lost through robbery, adding that out of the number, 10 persons including one policeman were innocent victims, while four were armed robbers.
Mr Agblor said 183 vehicles were on record as having been snatched from various drivers and road users over the period and out of this number, 81 had been recovered by the police, while strenuous efforts were underway to recover the rest.
He said 50 robbery victims were injured over the period and not less than 33 of the arrested robbers had so far been convicted by the law courts, while 120 firearms were seized by the police over the period under review.
According to the Director-General, there were crime-prone areas where robbers always operated in almost all the regions and the police had intensified night and day patrols in those areas.
Mr Agblor said to enhance investigation of cases by the CID, the Police Administration with the assistance of the Spanish government had introduced the Automated Fingerprints Identification System (AFIS) and so far 3,500 data had been automated.
 He said with funds provided by the European Union, the Forensic Laboratory of the service had been modernised with the addition of a DNA laboratory and a ballistics section that can examine all kinds of firearms.
He assured members of the public that the police were on top of the crime situation and had put in place prudent strategies to ensure that people went about their normal duties without fear or favour.
The Director-General advised the driving public, especially commercial drivers, to develop the habit of looking into their driving mirrors as they drove to monitor the vehicles driving behind them so that in case they were being trailed they could quickly drive to a nearby police station to report.
He reminded the media and the public that the reward system introduced by the current police administration was still in force, adding that any person with a credible information that would lead to the arrest of an armed robber would be adequately rewarded.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Gold robbery case was a hoax — Police
Gold robbery case was a hoax — Police
Story: Mary Mensah
IT has now been established that the alleged robbery of more than 25 kilogrammes of gold worth GH¢1.8 million belonging to a businessman at Tarkwa Nsuaem in the Western Region was a hoax.
Police investigations into the incident have revealed thatthe businessman, Victor Asherifi, concocted the story tothrow dust into the eyes of his many businness partners he owed.
For his action, Asherifi is to be arraigned on charges of deceit of public officer, causing fear and panic and possession of firearms without authority.
According to the Public Relations Officer at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Chief Inspector Joseph B. Darkwah, Asherifi is a known businessman in Tarkwa who deals in gold and has many customers who also deal in gold.
He said the customers had collectively given Asherifi a total of GH¢1,395,994.77 for the supply of gold to them.
He said when Asherifi could not honour his obligations to his customers, he faked the robbery in which he claimed that he had been robbed of 25 kilogrammes of gold he was carrying from Tarkwa to Accra which he had concealed under the driver’s seat in the Toyota Tundra pick-up he was driving on August 1, 2011.
According to Chief Inspector Darkwah, while Asherifi claimed that two of his workers assisted him to parcel the gold in his office after which one of them assisted him to carry it into the Toyota Tundra pick-up, the two denied ever assisting him in anyway when they appeared before a committee set up by the Police Administration to look into the issue.
He said one of the workers also told the committee that gold purchases they made on that day were only 11 kilogrammes and not 25 kilogrammes.
Besides, it emerged during the investigations that Asherifi never personally travelled to deliver any gold to any of his customers, Chief Inspector Darkwah said, adding that two of his workers usually carried out that assignment on his behalf.
He said it came up during the investigations that Asherifi hardly travelled to Accra and on the few times that he did so, he went with a driver, and said it came as a surprise to all witnesses that he was driving to Accra alone with the 25 kilogramme gold.
On Asherifi’s claim that the alleged armed robbers crossed him at a spot which was only five minutes drive to Nsuaem resulting in him running into a ditch, Chief Inspector Darkwah said investigations revealed that his car never ran into a ditch, while it took him close to three hours before he reported the robbery to the police.
He said while policemen who arrived at the scene of the alleged robbery found a pistol lying on the right hand side of the rear seat of Asherifi’s vehicle, Asherifi claimed in his statement that one of the robbers left his pistol under the driver’s seat after removing the gold.
“The Police Administration states authoritatively that no such robbery incident occurred on the said date and that the victim of the robbery staged the incident to win sympathy from members of the public and prevent his debtors from harassing him,” Chief Inspector Darkwa said, and warned members of the public to desist from acts that would cause fear and panic among the Ghanaian populace and scare away potential investors.
It would be recalled that the August 2, 2011 edition of the Daily Graphic carried a story about suspected robbers who had robbed the businessman of the gold while on his way to Accra.
Story: Mary Mensah
IT has now been established that the alleged robbery of more than 25 kilogrammes of gold worth GH¢1.8 million belonging to a businessman at Tarkwa Nsuaem in the Western Region was a hoax.
Police investigations into the incident have revealed thatthe businessman, Victor Asherifi, concocted the story tothrow dust into the eyes of his many businness partners he owed.
For his action, Asherifi is to be arraigned on charges of deceit of public officer, causing fear and panic and possession of firearms without authority.
According to the Public Relations Officer at the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Chief Inspector Joseph B. Darkwah, Asherifi is a known businessman in Tarkwa who deals in gold and has many customers who also deal in gold.
He said the customers had collectively given Asherifi a total of GH¢1,395,994.77 for the supply of gold to them.
He said when Asherifi could not honour his obligations to his customers, he faked the robbery in which he claimed that he had been robbed of 25 kilogrammes of gold he was carrying from Tarkwa to Accra which he had concealed under the driver’s seat in the Toyota Tundra pick-up he was driving on August 1, 2011.
According to Chief Inspector Darkwah, while Asherifi claimed that two of his workers assisted him to parcel the gold in his office after which one of them assisted him to carry it into the Toyota Tundra pick-up, the two denied ever assisting him in anyway when they appeared before a committee set up by the Police Administration to look into the issue.
He said one of the workers also told the committee that gold purchases they made on that day were only 11 kilogrammes and not 25 kilogrammes.
Besides, it emerged during the investigations that Asherifi never personally travelled to deliver any gold to any of his customers, Chief Inspector Darkwah said, adding that two of his workers usually carried out that assignment on his behalf.
He said it came up during the investigations that Asherifi hardly travelled to Accra and on the few times that he did so, he went with a driver, and said it came as a surprise to all witnesses that he was driving to Accra alone with the 25 kilogramme gold.
On Asherifi’s claim that the alleged armed robbers crossed him at a spot which was only five minutes drive to Nsuaem resulting in him running into a ditch, Chief Inspector Darkwah said investigations revealed that his car never ran into a ditch, while it took him close to three hours before he reported the robbery to the police.
He said while policemen who arrived at the scene of the alleged robbery found a pistol lying on the right hand side of the rear seat of Asherifi’s vehicle, Asherifi claimed in his statement that one of the robbers left his pistol under the driver’s seat after removing the gold.
“The Police Administration states authoritatively that no such robbery incident occurred on the said date and that the victim of the robbery staged the incident to win sympathy from members of the public and prevent his debtors from harassing him,” Chief Inspector Darkwa said, and warned members of the public to desist from acts that would cause fear and panic among the Ghanaian populace and scare away potential investors.
It would be recalled that the August 2, 2011 edition of the Daily Graphic carried a story about suspected robbers who had robbed the businessman of the gold while on his way to Accra.
PASTOR WENT BESERK
Story: Mary Mensah
Bishop Daniel Obinim of International Godsway Church headquatered in Kumasi in the company of two other pastors yesterday went beserk when he stormed the offices of HOT FM an Accra based radio station armed with a crowbar smashing glasses and attacking the host and panelists of a discussion programme.
Obinims reason was that the panelists were discussing an issue which broke out in the media last week about his relationship with the wife of one of his pastors.
The host of the programme, Ntim Ketekyere and the three panelist Shadrach Adu, George Kumi and Reverend Amoako Atta allegedly sustained various degrees of injuries and were treated and discharge at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.
ing Bishop Obinim and he was handed him over to the Accra Regional Police Command for further investigations into the matter.
According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACOP) Rose Bio Atinga yesterday at about 10pm the police had information that some people have attacked the offices of HOT FM at Adabraka and have distroyed properties belonging to the station.
She said the police patrol team quickly proceeded to the station and arrested Bishop Obinim together with Pastor Kofi Akwetey and Pastor Kingsley Baah Ameyaw both pasters of his church and upon ineterrogation Bishop Obinim stated that at about 9pm while relaxing at home at Ashaleybotwe in Accra he overheard a panel discussion on HOT FM where the panelists were discussing him and casting inspection to his character.
ACOP Atinga said Bishop Obinim said he asked two of his pastors to accompany him to Adabraka to face the panelists and on reaching the studious he confronted the Host and the panelists and the confrontation turned into a serious fight and he was pushed to the glass wall which caused it to shattered into pieces.
The Commander said Shadrach on his part said the issue about his alleged infidelity was being discussed and just as they were about to wrap up the programme he suddenly broke into the studios shouting at the host and panelists and this resulted into a serious confrontation and during the quarrel that ensued between them he used the crow bar to hit the host who fell on the floor and he started stepping on him and using the crow bar to also smashed the glass door and windows.
She said Shadrach managed to sneaked out of the studio and reported the incident to the Adabrake Police who stormed the premises of the station and arrested Obinim and his cohorts and they were all taken to the Accra regional Police Command where
Bishop Daniel Obinim of International Godsway Church headquatered in Kumasi in the company of two other pastors yesterday went beserk when he stormed the offices of HOT FM an Accra based radio station armed with a crowbar smashing glasses and attacking the host and panelists of a discussion programme.
Obinims reason was that the panelists were discussing an issue which broke out in the media last week about his relationship with the wife of one of his pastors.
The host of the programme, Ntim Ketekyere and the three panelist Shadrach Adu, George Kumi and Reverend Amoako Atta allegedly sustained various degrees of injuries and were treated and discharge at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.
ing Bishop Obinim and he was handed him over to the Accra Regional Police Command for further investigations into the matter.
According to the Accra Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACOP) Rose Bio Atinga yesterday at about 10pm the police had information that some people have attacked the offices of HOT FM at Adabraka and have distroyed properties belonging to the station.
She said the police patrol team quickly proceeded to the station and arrested Bishop Obinim together with Pastor Kofi Akwetey and Pastor Kingsley Baah Ameyaw both pasters of his church and upon ineterrogation Bishop Obinim stated that at about 9pm while relaxing at home at Ashaleybotwe in Accra he overheard a panel discussion on HOT FM where the panelists were discussing him and casting inspection to his character.
ACOP Atinga said Bishop Obinim said he asked two of his pastors to accompany him to Adabraka to face the panelists and on reaching the studious he confronted the Host and the panelists and the confrontation turned into a serious fight and he was pushed to the glass wall which caused it to shattered into pieces.
The Commander said Shadrach on his part said the issue about his alleged infidelity was being discussed and just as they were about to wrap up the programme he suddenly broke into the studios shouting at the host and panelists and this resulted into a serious confrontation and during the quarrel that ensued between them he used the crow bar to hit the host who fell on the floor and he started stepping on him and using the crow bar to also smashed the glass door and windows.
She said Shadrach managed to sneaked out of the studio and reported the incident to the Adabrake Police who stormed the premises of the station and arrested Obinim and his cohorts and they were all taken to the Accra regional Police Command where
Thursday, March 17, 2011
DIRECTOR CALLED FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF CHIEFS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS
Story: Mary Mensah, Lusaka, Zambia
The Director of Social Welfare and Member of the NACOB Board of Directors, Mr Stephen Tampuri Adongo, has called for the involvement of traditional rulers in the fight against narcotics drugs and money laundering in the country.
He said Ghanaian chiefs were well placed and resourced to play unique roles in their various communities to bring the situation under control.
Mr Adongo made the call in the Zambian capital of Lusaka when an eight-member delegation from Ghana on a tour of Zambia, to study the drug demand reduction strategies for possible implementation in Ghana, paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Mr Aaron C. Zulu, in his office.
The tour was organised by the Narcotics Control Board for its stakeholders to study the use of chiefs in drug demand reduction strategies and money laundering, for possible implementation in Ghana.
Members of the delegation were drawn from the NACOB, Consortium of NGO's in Drug Abuse Prevention, the Media, the School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) of the Ministry of Education, Financial Intelligence Centre and the CHASS.
He said Zambia had chalked up successes in their demand reduction efforts by using their traditional rulers and headsmen who acted as whistle blowers for the Drug Enforcement Commission and this had helped them to arrest suspects who grew and supplied cannabis or Indian hemp.
Mr Adongo, who lead the delegation, told Mr Zulu that Ghana had chalked up numerous successes in the fight against illicit drugs but had not yet made use of their traditional rulers.
He said in Ghana the chiefs were custodians of the land whereas in Zambia all lands were vested in the President and the chiefs were offered lands on request.
Besides, the government paid the chiefs monthly allowances and were under governmental control.
He said in Ghana, however, there was a rich traditional culture and chiefs had control over resources and their people. Besides, they were, to a greater extent, independent of governmental control.
He added that what was lacking in Ghana was the NACOB’s inability to bring the chiefs on board to spearhead demand reduction programmes in their various communities.
For his part, Mr Zulu said in Zambia the DEC was autonomous and had over the years enjoyed enormous amount of resources from the government and development partners to facilitate demand reduction programmes. He said that had contributed to the successes they had chalked up.
He said all proceeds from fines imposed on arrested drug dealers were given back to the commission to resource it.
These included lands, buildings, cars and forfeited accounts. Besides, the government also gave the commission $100,000 a month to appreciate and reward informants whose information had led to the arrest of drug dealers.
The commissioner indicated that one could not win the fight against drug trafficking if he or she operated without money because the drug barons dealt with millions of dollars and could offer any amount to have their way through.
He said the number one abused drug in Zambia was Cannabis, which was mainly grown along the banks of the Zambesi River and was seen as a traditional drug so most suspects were cautioned and discharged after the destruction of their farms. Others were given sentences ranging from one month to five years imprisonment.
According to him, the world has, over the years, experienced technological advancement which has shrunk the globe into a single entity that could be easily accessed.
That advancement, he said, had been beneficial to mankind in general but some criminal elements had hijacked the technology for the enhancement of crimes such as illicit drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Deputy Commissioner of the DEC, Mrs Philisters Mwansa, who was present at the meeting, said the commission also had a strong relationship with the media, who constantly reported the arrest of drug traffickers, which served as a deterrent to others.
She said regional officers of the DEC also organised sensitisation programmes in the communities on the dangers and effects of drug trafficking, drug cultivation, drug abuse and money laundering.
She said the psychiatric hospital in Zambia was used for the rehabilitation of drug users in order to reintegrate them back into society.
Mrs Mwansa said in spite of many hurdles, the DEC had remained focused in its quest to curb the incidence of illicit drugs in Zambia due to the effects it could have on the socio-economic development of the nation.
The Director of Social Welfare and Member of the NACOB Board of Directors, Mr Stephen Tampuri Adongo, has called for the involvement of traditional rulers in the fight against narcotics drugs and money laundering in the country.
He said Ghanaian chiefs were well placed and resourced to play unique roles in their various communities to bring the situation under control.
Mr Adongo made the call in the Zambian capital of Lusaka when an eight-member delegation from Ghana on a tour of Zambia, to study the drug demand reduction strategies for possible implementation in Ghana, paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Mr Aaron C. Zulu, in his office.
The tour was organised by the Narcotics Control Board for its stakeholders to study the use of chiefs in drug demand reduction strategies and money laundering, for possible implementation in Ghana.
Members of the delegation were drawn from the NACOB, Consortium of NGO's in Drug Abuse Prevention, the Media, the School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) of the Ministry of Education, Financial Intelligence Centre and the CHASS.
He said Zambia had chalked up successes in their demand reduction efforts by using their traditional rulers and headsmen who acted as whistle blowers for the Drug Enforcement Commission and this had helped them to arrest suspects who grew and supplied cannabis or Indian hemp.
Mr Adongo, who lead the delegation, told Mr Zulu that Ghana had chalked up numerous successes in the fight against illicit drugs but had not yet made use of their traditional rulers.
He said in Ghana the chiefs were custodians of the land whereas in Zambia all lands were vested in the President and the chiefs were offered lands on request.
Besides, the government paid the chiefs monthly allowances and were under governmental control.
He said in Ghana, however, there was a rich traditional culture and chiefs had control over resources and their people. Besides, they were, to a greater extent, independent of governmental control.
He added that what was lacking in Ghana was the NACOB’s inability to bring the chiefs on board to spearhead demand reduction programmes in their various communities.
For his part, Mr Zulu said in Zambia the DEC was autonomous and had over the years enjoyed enormous amount of resources from the government and development partners to facilitate demand reduction programmes. He said that had contributed to the successes they had chalked up.
He said all proceeds from fines imposed on arrested drug dealers were given back to the commission to resource it.
These included lands, buildings, cars and forfeited accounts. Besides, the government also gave the commission $100,000 a month to appreciate and reward informants whose information had led to the arrest of drug dealers.
The commissioner indicated that one could not win the fight against drug trafficking if he or she operated without money because the drug barons dealt with millions of dollars and could offer any amount to have their way through.
He said the number one abused drug in Zambia was Cannabis, which was mainly grown along the banks of the Zambesi River and was seen as a traditional drug so most suspects were cautioned and discharged after the destruction of their farms. Others were given sentences ranging from one month to five years imprisonment.
According to him, the world has, over the years, experienced technological advancement which has shrunk the globe into a single entity that could be easily accessed.
That advancement, he said, had been beneficial to mankind in general but some criminal elements had hijacked the technology for the enhancement of crimes such as illicit drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Deputy Commissioner of the DEC, Mrs Philisters Mwansa, who was present at the meeting, said the commission also had a strong relationship with the media, who constantly reported the arrest of drug traffickers, which served as a deterrent to others.
She said regional officers of the DEC also organised sensitisation programmes in the communities on the dangers and effects of drug trafficking, drug cultivation, drug abuse and money laundering.
She said the psychiatric hospital in Zambia was used for the rehabilitation of drug users in order to reintegrate them back into society.
Mrs Mwansa said in spite of many hurdles, the DEC had remained focused in its quest to curb the incidence of illicit drugs in Zambia due to the effects it could have on the socio-economic development of the nation.
GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT CONFISCATED ASSETS OF DRUG PEDDLERS
Story: Mary Mensah, Back from Zambia
Government has been urged to take a second look at the laws on confiscated property of persons convicted of drug charges.
Such property whether moveable or immovable like buildings, vehicles and lands should be disposed of and the proceeds paid into the accounts of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to support the fight against drug abuse, trafficking and money laundering.
This forms part of recommendations made by an eight member delegation from Ghana to Zambia on study tour.
The Zambian experience has been accepted by the international community as one of the best on the African continent that has helped that country to fight drug trafficking, cannabis cultivation and abuse.
The nine-day tour was organised by NACOB for its stakeholders to study the use of traditional rulers like chiefs and queens in drug demand reduction strategies and money laundering for possible implementation in Ghana.
Members of the delegation were drawn from NACOB, Consortium of NGO's in Drug Abuse Prevention, the Media, School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) of the Ministry of Education, Financial Intelligence Centre and Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).
According to the delegation, for NACOB to be totally effective and efficient in its operations there is the need to fast track efforts of government to make it independent.
The delegation also called on NACOB to look beyond government’s support and step out to the donor communities to mobilise support from there to argument government contribution to demand reduction programmes in the country.
They called attractive reward packages, incentives and protection for whistle blowers because NACOB cannot work in isolation they need information from members of the public to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
It observed that the DEC in Zambia has been very successful by using the traditional structure in the community to facilitate demand reduction efforts because the traditional leaders in Zambia are under governmental control hence do not have their autonomy, they do not control resource to sustain demand reduction programmes.
Whereas in Ghana, there is a rich traditional culture where traditional leaders have control over resources and their subjects. What is lacking is NACOB's inability to bring them on board to spear head demand reduction programmes in their communities.
The delegation recommends that, in view of the fact that traditional leaders in Ghana are endowed with rich resources including financial resources and are, to a greater extent, independent of governmental controls, a conscious effort must be made to include them in the demand reduction efforts of NACOB since;
“The delegation would like to place on record its appreciation to Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and the Executive Secretary in particular for their support to the delegation which greatly contributed to making the visit to Zambia possible.”, it said.
The delegation would further like to appreciate the Ghana High Commission in Zambia for the support given to the delegation while in Zambia. Officials of the commission were assigned to the delegation to ensure that their objectives were met.
“We want to express our appreciation to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Zambia for opening their doors to the delegation to have an insight into their operations adding that their interactions with them have been very insightful. We are also very grateful to the traditional leaders we met who provided the delegation with information on their operations in their various communities.
It is hoped that the recommendations made will aid NACOB to re-define its demand reduction strategies, to bring all stakeholders on board to support effort of government to have a comprehensive demand reduction effort in Ghana.
Government has been urged to take a second look at the laws on confiscated property of persons convicted of drug charges.
Such property whether moveable or immovable like buildings, vehicles and lands should be disposed of and the proceeds paid into the accounts of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to support the fight against drug abuse, trafficking and money laundering.
This forms part of recommendations made by an eight member delegation from Ghana to Zambia on study tour.
The Zambian experience has been accepted by the international community as one of the best on the African continent that has helped that country to fight drug trafficking, cannabis cultivation and abuse.
The nine-day tour was organised by NACOB for its stakeholders to study the use of traditional rulers like chiefs and queens in drug demand reduction strategies and money laundering for possible implementation in Ghana.
Members of the delegation were drawn from NACOB, Consortium of NGO's in Drug Abuse Prevention, the Media, School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) of the Ministry of Education, Financial Intelligence Centre and Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS).
According to the delegation, for NACOB to be totally effective and efficient in its operations there is the need to fast track efforts of government to make it independent.
The delegation also called on NACOB to look beyond government’s support and step out to the donor communities to mobilise support from there to argument government contribution to demand reduction programmes in the country.
They called attractive reward packages, incentives and protection for whistle blowers because NACOB cannot work in isolation they need information from members of the public to enable them discharge their duties effectively and efficiently.
It observed that the DEC in Zambia has been very successful by using the traditional structure in the community to facilitate demand reduction efforts because the traditional leaders in Zambia are under governmental control hence do not have their autonomy, they do not control resource to sustain demand reduction programmes.
Whereas in Ghana, there is a rich traditional culture where traditional leaders have control over resources and their subjects. What is lacking is NACOB's inability to bring them on board to spear head demand reduction programmes in their communities.
The delegation recommends that, in view of the fact that traditional leaders in Ghana are endowed with rich resources including financial resources and are, to a greater extent, independent of governmental controls, a conscious effort must be made to include them in the demand reduction efforts of NACOB since;
“The delegation would like to place on record its appreciation to Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and the Executive Secretary in particular for their support to the delegation which greatly contributed to making the visit to Zambia possible.”, it said.
The delegation would further like to appreciate the Ghana High Commission in Zambia for the support given to the delegation while in Zambia. Officials of the commission were assigned to the delegation to ensure that their objectives were met.
“We want to express our appreciation to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) in Zambia for opening their doors to the delegation to have an insight into their operations adding that their interactions with them have been very insightful. We are also very grateful to the traditional leaders we met who provided the delegation with information on their operations in their various communities.
It is hoped that the recommendations made will aid NACOB to re-define its demand reduction strategies, to bring all stakeholders on board to support effort of government to have a comprehensive demand reduction effort in Ghana.
NACOB TEAM ON STUDY TOUR IN ZAMBIA
28/01/2011
Story: Mary Mensah, Lusaka, Zambia
AN eight-member delegation from Ghana has paid a nine-day study visit to Zambia to exchange ideas with the Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on best practices in the fight against the narcotics trade.
The tour was organised by the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) for its stakeholders as part of its effort at steppig up the fight against drug abuse, cultivation and trafficking, as well as demand reduction strategies in Ghana.
The delegation was led by the Director of the Department of Social Welfare and member of NACOB, Mr Stephen Tampuri Adongo, with the other members drawn from the Ministry of Education, the Consortium of NGOs, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), the Financial Intelligence Centre and the media.
The delegation, on arrival in Zambia, paid a courtesy call on the Zambian Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Mkhondo Lungu, who called on African leaders to commit more resources to the fight against narcotic drugs and other substances on the continent.
He said the drug trade transcended borders and that it was important for governments in Africa to learn from one another and share intelligence in order to rid the continent of the drug menace.
Mr Lungu commended NACOB for the initiative and said Ghana and Zambia had enjoyed fruitful collaboration since the era of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, adding, "We are happy that you are here to partner us in the fight against narcotics in the country."
For his part, Mr Adongo said NACOB had chalked up a number of successes in the fight against narcotic drugs, money laundering and other illicit trade.
He said Ghana had decided to partner other African countries to fight the drug menace in the spirit of and foster South-South co-operation.
He said NACOB was impressed with the demand reduction strategies adopted by the DEC which had led to many successes in the fight against the narcotics trade in Zambia.
Mr Adongo indicated that the involvement of chiefs and community leaders in the fight was very commendable.
The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Ghana High Commissioner to Zambia, Dr George William Branford, and briefed him on the drug situation in Ghana and the commitment of the government to step up its strategies.
It also visited the Central and Western provinces to interact with chiefs on their partnership with the DEC to sensitise their subjects to the dangers of narcotics cultivation, trafficking and abuse.
Story: Mary Mensah, Lusaka, Zambia
AN eight-member delegation from Ghana has paid a nine-day study visit to Zambia to exchange ideas with the Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) on best practices in the fight against the narcotics trade.
The tour was organised by the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) for its stakeholders as part of its effort at steppig up the fight against drug abuse, cultivation and trafficking, as well as demand reduction strategies in Ghana.
The delegation was led by the Director of the Department of Social Welfare and member of NACOB, Mr Stephen Tampuri Adongo, with the other members drawn from the Ministry of Education, the Consortium of NGOs, the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), the Financial Intelligence Centre and the media.
The delegation, on arrival in Zambia, paid a courtesy call on the Zambian Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Mkhondo Lungu, who called on African leaders to commit more resources to the fight against narcotic drugs and other substances on the continent.
He said the drug trade transcended borders and that it was important for governments in Africa to learn from one another and share intelligence in order to rid the continent of the drug menace.
Mr Lungu commended NACOB for the initiative and said Ghana and Zambia had enjoyed fruitful collaboration since the era of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, adding, "We are happy that you are here to partner us in the fight against narcotics in the country."
For his part, Mr Adongo said NACOB had chalked up a number of successes in the fight against narcotic drugs, money laundering and other illicit trade.
He said Ghana had decided to partner other African countries to fight the drug menace in the spirit of and foster South-South co-operation.
He said NACOB was impressed with the demand reduction strategies adopted by the DEC which had led to many successes in the fight against the narcotics trade in Zambia.
Mr Adongo indicated that the involvement of chiefs and community leaders in the fight was very commendable.
The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Ghana High Commissioner to Zambia, Dr George William Branford, and briefed him on the drug situation in Ghana and the commitment of the government to step up its strategies.
It also visited the Central and Western provinces to interact with chiefs on their partnership with the DEC to sensitise their subjects to the dangers of narcotics cultivation, trafficking and abuse.
Governments urged to commit resources to fight narcotics trade
27/10/2011
Story: Mary Mensah, Lusaka Zambia
Governments in Africa have been urged to commit more resources to the fight against the narcotics trade and money laundering on the continent.
The fight cannot be won without information and there is the need to provide money to reward and appreciate informants who are key in the fight against drug cultivation, drug abuse and trafficking as well as money laundering.
The Commiss ioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia, Mr Mr Adongo made the call in the Zambian capital of Lusaka when an eight member delegation from Ghana on study tour in Zambia to study the drug demand reduction strategies for possible implementation in Ghana paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Mr. Aaron C. Zulu in his office.
The tour was organized by the Narcotics Control Board for its stakeholders to study the use of chiefs in drug demand reduction strategies and money laundering for possible implementation in Ghana.
Members of the delegation were drawn from NACOB, Consortium of NGO's in Drug Abuse Prevention, the Media, School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) of the Ministry of Education, Financial Intelligence Centre and CHASS.
He said Zambia has chalked many successes in their demand reduction efforts by using their traditional rulers and headsmen who acts as whistle blowers to the Drug Enforcement Commission and this has helped them to arrest suspects who grow and supply cannabis or Indian hemp.
Story: Mary Mensah, Lusaka Zambia
Governments in Africa have been urged to commit more resources to the fight against the narcotics trade and money laundering on the continent.
The fight cannot be won without information and there is the need to provide money to reward and appreciate informants who are key in the fight against drug cultivation, drug abuse and trafficking as well as money laundering.
The Commiss ioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia, Mr Mr Adongo made the call in the Zambian capital of Lusaka when an eight member delegation from Ghana on study tour in Zambia to study the drug demand reduction strategies for possible implementation in Ghana paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Mr. Aaron C. Zulu in his office.
The tour was organized by the Narcotics Control Board for its stakeholders to study the use of chiefs in drug demand reduction strategies and money laundering for possible implementation in Ghana.
Members of the delegation were drawn from NACOB, Consortium of NGO's in Drug Abuse Prevention, the Media, School Health Educational Programme (SHEP) of the Ministry of Education, Financial Intelligence Centre and CHASS.
He said Zambia has chalked many successes in their demand reduction efforts by using their traditional rulers and headsmen who acts as whistle blowers to the Drug Enforcement Commission and this has helped them to arrest suspects who grow and supply cannabis or Indian hemp.
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