The Minister for the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery, on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 inaugurated a 15-member Governing Board of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to oversee the operations of the Commission in Accra.
The Board, chaired by Mr. J. Kaiffe Mensah, has Ms. Aba Jacqueline Opoku of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO); Mrs. Delese A.A. Darko, CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA); Mr. Isaac Kofi Egyir, Ghana Prisons Service; Mr. Laud Ofori Affrifa, Ghana Immigration Service; Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice; and Mr. Francis K. Torkonoo, Acting Director-General of NACOC.
The rest of the members are; Mr. Duncan Opare, National Security Coordinator; Col. Twum Ampofo-Gyekye, Ghana Armed Forces (GAF); Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Dr. Akwasi Osei, the CEO of the Mental Health Authority, Mr. Seth Nana Amoako, Head of Compliance at the Financial Intelligence Centre, Mr. Charles Nabarise Bob Senyalah, Assistant Commissioner, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Benjamin K. Gyasi, Chief Director, Ministry of Education and Mr. Joseph Oklu Gyamerah, Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Ghana Police Service (CID).
In his speech, after inaugurating the Board, Mr. Ambrose Dery, indicated that the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) makes provision for the establishment of the Narcotics Control Commission for offences related to narcotics drugs and plants cultivated for narcotics purposes and related matters, adding that this was the first ever Governing Board of the Commission constituted by His Excellency, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in accordance with Section 4 of Act 1019.
“Act 1019, amongst other issues transforms the NACOB into the NACOC with enhanced powers and mandate to curb the drug menace in line with the Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Outline (CMO) recommended by the United Nations (UN)”, he said.
He, therefore, stated that, Government was determined to position the organisation at the right pedestal to enhance the fight against the global menace.
Mr. Dery stressed that the Commission was committed to its primary responsibility of Enforcement and Control aimed at investigations, arrest and prosecution of drug dealers, adding that NACOC would also concentrate on the treatment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of the people who have substance use disorders.
He further noted that, education and prevention with the object of raising awareness of the general public especially the youth who are in and out of school on the dangers associate with illicit drugs would be pursued.
The Minister for the Interior has thus charged the board to bring their expertise to bear to better position and direct the Commission in achieving its objects.
“It therefore behoves on you as members of the Board from key stakeholder institutions to assist in the fight against illicit drug trafficking, substance abuse and transnational organized crime in general. It is my earnest expectation that, the synergy in expertise from diverse institutional representations on the Governing Board will be brought to bear to better position and direct the Commission in achieving its objects”. He said.
Mr. Dery in conclusion, pledged his support as the Sector Minister, to facilitate provision of the requisite logistics for the effective administration and operations of the Commission.
The Chairman of the Board, Mr. J Kaiffe Mensah, in his remarks, assured of the board’s commitment to serve the nation with dedication, honesty and loyalty.
“We will work assiduously to guide this Commission to execute its responsibility to the expectations of the President of the Republic the country”, he said.
