THE EFFECT OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF ILLICIT DRUGS ON A TRANSIT COUNTRY-A CASE STUDY OF GHANA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The rise of Ghana as an important drug trafficking route recently has raised both serious domestic and international concern. For the country to be able to untag itself as a famous drug trafficking hub, the effective and efficient performance of state institutions like the Narcotics Control Board, the Ghana Police Service, the Customs Excise and Preventive Service and the Judiciary is very critical. But how does this become possible in the face of numerous already existing administrative vices? This thesis argues that to a very great extent, corruption and interference by people at the helm of affairs are the main forms of interference in the work of the drug fighting institutions in Ghana. Corruption basically comes from drug traffickers and dealers themselves in the form of offering bribes to influence the decision of these law and order institutions. On the other hand the activities of politicians or high profile people are seen to be greatly affecting the effectiveness and efficiency of these institutions. Thus while dealers offer bribes for their freedom, the influential persons in society also use their positions to directly deal in drugs or indirectly influence the outcome of cases involving their relatives and friends. Politicians also use their offices to cripple the effective outputs of these institutions by their reluctance to provide the necessary training, logistics, equipment and an attractive salary structure for personnel.