GoldBod Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sammy Gyamfi has welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s directive to restore the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to the list of Port Inspection Agencies.

Mr Gyamfi said the recent seizure of a large consignment of cocaine in another jurisdiction, traced to a Ghanaian port, raised concerns about monitoring and inspection systems at the country’s ports.

He said NACOC, which is mandated to monitor, regulate, enforce and control narcotics trafficking, was removed from the list of Port Inspection Agencies in June 2018.

“While it is unclear what may have informed that decision in 2018, it is evident that the said decision weakened NACOC’s port inspection function and denied them the ability to detect and prevent drug trafficking through the country’s port of entry and exit,” he said in a Facebook post.

Mr Gyamfi said it was therefore “refreshing” to learn that President Mahama had directed the immediate restoration of NACOC to the list of Port Inspection Agencies.

He said the directive also grants NACOC access to all entry and exit points by air, land and sea.

“As someone, who has closely worked with the Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey-led NACOC in fighting gold-smuggling, I am confident that with the necessary support, the NACOC will succeed in stemming this tide,” he said.

Mr Gyamfi also said he understood that the president had directed that all scanners and personnel at the country’s ports be changed with immediate effect.

“I believe that these measures, if implemented effectively, will strengthen checks and control at our ports to forestall the reccurrence of these unfortunate incidents,” he added.