Ghana Partners with United States to Fight Drug Trafficking

Ghana has announced once again its dedication to fighting organized crime, especially the drug trafficking activities and money laundering that have been plaguing the country.

The Ghana News Agency reported that Mrs. Betty Mould-Iddrisu, Attorney General and Minister of Justice reiterated the government’s determination to fight. Mould-Iddrisu noting the ongoing difficulty in the process as a result of the sophisticated nature of the offenders and logistical constraints.

These announcements were made at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General and the US Embassy in Accra.

The MOU was signed by Mould-Iddrisu and Mr. Donald Teitelbaum, U.S. Ambassador to Ghana. Both individuals were representing their own countries. The MOU will ensure the provision of a temporary U.S. Government Prosecutor to train and work with prosecutors in Ghana. They will provide guidance on investigating organized crime cases associated with narcotic trafficking and money laundering.

Mould-Iddrisu also announced efforts on behalf of the Ghana government to transform the Serious Fraud Office into a Financial and Economic Crime (FEC) unit. It will be the leading agency investigating organized and economic crimes in the country.

According to Mould-Iddrisu, the mode of narcotic trafficking and laundering has become more complicated and requires collaboration with other international organizations in order to the these cross-border crimes.

"We are the first to admit that we have not been successful in fighting the narcotic trade in the country," she said. He hopes the MOU will strengthen ties between Ghana and the United States to facilitate the fight against organized crime and drug trafficking activities.

Teitelbaum pledged the commitment of the United States to collaborate with Ghana to fight narcotic traffickers who use Ghana as a transit corridor. He noted the MOU was another indication of the ongoing partnership between the two countries on projects of mutual interest.