The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has backed calls for Parliament to be recalled from recess to scrutinise Ghana’s response to narcotics trafficking following the shipment of 3.9 tonnes of cocaine linked to the country.
The Minority in Parliament has petitioned the Speaker to recall the House to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shipment, citing its national security implications.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 21, the Bishops described the proposed parliamentary oversight as “legitimate and necessary” and called for the sitting to proceed without delay.
The Conference, however, urged Parliament to handle the matter with the seriousness it deserves and avoid allowing partisan considerations to dominate the proceedings.
“We urge that any sitting proceed without delay, with the sobriety proper to a matter of this gravity rather than partisan point-scoring, and that every institution cooperate fully and transparently,” the statement said.
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The Bishops said the Ministers responsible for the Interior, Transport and National Security, together with the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, Ghana Immigration Service and National Intelligence Bureau, must account for the effectiveness of measures in place at Ghana’s entry points.
They said the institutions should provide clarity on the systems and measures being used to prevent the country from being exploited as a transit point for narcotics trafficking.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the security agencies to develop a blueprint to improve inter-agency collaboration and strengthen Ghana’s response to drug trafficking and related security threats.
