Contribution of Ghana-UK Collaboration to The Combat of Drug Trafficking in Ghana

Abstract

The study was to explore the contribution of Ghana-UK collaboration to the combat of drug trafficking in Ghana. The study used a qualitative and exploratory design of which respondents from the national security, airport immigration and narcotics were selected purposively. Interview guide was used as a data collection instrument. Furthermore, the interviews recorded were transcribed verbatim, coded and edited, the data were analyzed using thematic analysis and presented in themes based on the research objectives. The study found that cocaine, heroin, India hemp or marijuana, “codeine”, and benelin syrup mixed with codeine are the main drugs that are trafficked in and out of the country. Drug peddlers normally trafficked drugs by concealing it in luggage, swallowing, incision in the anus, putting them in some foodstuffs, cargo and others.  Poverty, wish to amass wealth or fame, as well as high unemployment rate, were the factors that triggered drug trafficking. Also, the prospects show that none of the two countries could have been able to better address the problem of drug trafficking without this collaboration between them. Financial constraints, equipment, short of staff and skilled workers, an attitude of workers, administrative issues, condition of services, among others, serve as the main challenges confronted in the quest to combat drug trafficking in Ghana.  Therefore, the study recommended that the Government of Ghana continue with the agreement or collaboration with the UK since it has advice in combating of drug trafficking. Also, in partnership with the national security, the government of Ghana should improve upon the condition of service and find a better way to motivate the workers for them to give out their best to help combat drug trafficking