Interior Minister Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak Mohamed has urged West African governments and international partners to adopt urgent, coordinated measures to combat the rapid rise of synthetic drugs and cocaine trafficking across the sub-region.
Speaking at a High-Level Regional Dialogue on the Drug Market in West Africa held in Accra on Thursday, the minister warned that the region’s drug landscape is evolving “at an unprecedented pace,” with synthetic substances emerging in new areas and traditional trafficking routes shifting quickly.
Ghana Outlines Three-Pillar Strategy
The minister outlined Ghana’s national approach to combating the surge, built around three key pillars by Strengthening operational readiness across security and enforcement agencies.
He added prioritising community protection, ensuring citizens remain at the centre of the drug-control response and deepening regional and international cooperation to enhance collective impact.
He stressed that citizens expected tangible protection rather than political rhetoric. “Our citizens are not asking us for eloquent speeches,” he said. “They expect us to take decisions that shield their children, protect their borders, and strengthen their institutions.”
The Netherlands Minister for Justice and Security, Foort Van Oosten, echoed the call for stronger cross-border collaboration. He reminded participants that drug trafficking networks operate globally and cannot be defeated in isolation.
“No country can defeat drug trafficking alone, but together we can,” he stated, reaffirming the Netherlands’ commitment to supporting programmes aimed at tackling organised and transnational crime in West Africa.
The regional dialogue seeks to advance a unified strategy to address the escalating drug threat, focusing on practical measures at borders, within communities, and across national institutions.
Participants are expected to commit to concrete, measurable actions designed to build a more resilient and coordinated regional response.
The Accra meeting comes amid rising concerns from security experts who warn that West Africa risks becoming a major hub for synthetic drug production and international trafficking if coordinated intervention is delayed.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
