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.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
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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