Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. James Oppong Boanuh with Salifu Saeed and representatives from US Embassy and Italian Embassy
The United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime has provided a Technical Assistance Project to the Ghanaian authorities to counter drug trafficking and organized crimes by establishing a Drug Law Enforcement Unit for the Northern Regional Police Command.
The project seeks to provide a comprehensive support to Drug Law Enforcement Units of the Criminal Investigations Department (DLEU/CID) and the Ghana Police Service (GPS), including other law enforcement agencies.
Tamale, in the Northern Region, is part of four (4) other regions namely Sunyani, Koforidua and Ho that have been established and equipped with the necessary operational tools. Basic and advanced drug trafficking investigation training courses have been provided for the CID officers assigned to the DLEU.
Additionally, the United States (US) government will assist the GPS with Toyota Hilux 4×4 vehicle and three motorbikes.
Addressing participants in Tamale, Mr. Anthony D. McCrorey of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (US/INL) has invested nearly $2million for the programme.
According to him, the US has held five (5) drug trafficking investigation training courses as well as Law Enforcement Affairs, providing training for drug enforcement units in four (4) regions across the country including the Northern Region.
Mr. Anthony D. McCrorey stated that the US shares the same problem with other countries and every country must deny transit, and reduce demand in every corner of the globe. He assured Ghana that the US would always be at its side throughout the fight.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Mr. James Oppong Boanuh, said wherever illicit drugs are found, the crime rate is always high and law and order suffers. He therefore thanked the US government and the Italian Embassy for supporting the GPS.
He appealed to officers who would be working at the unit to exhibit professionalism in their duties. “The pieces of equipment that have been donated must be used for their intended purpose; we don’t want to see officers using them for their personal issues and any officer found to be misusing them will be punished,” he warned.
He noted that fighting drug trafficking is more challenging and it requires self-discipline and professionalism. He therefore urged officers to be fair, firm and impartial in the discharge of their duties.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale