Keep off Ghana---Prez warns drug barons

Saturday, September 24, 2011

By Edmund Mingle

President John Evans Atta Mills yesterday sounded of note of warning to drug barons across the globe that Ghana is out of bounds for their illicit drug trade, as the nation’s the security apparatus is on red alert.

Addressing the 66th United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, President Mills noted that Ghana was intensifying her efforts to check the menace in spite of the gains made in the fighting drug trafficking in Ghana in recent years.

“My administration remains relentlessly committed to vigorously fighting the narcotics menace.

“We will continue to make Ghana an unattractive destination for the drug barons and their assigns,” he told the General Assembly made up of world leaders.

He was of the conviction that Ghana must be free from drugs as a measure to ring-fence the future of our youth, citing the destructive effects of illicit drugs on society.

“Indeed, the world must be made an unattractive place for the illicit drug trade,” he stressed in his address, which is his second to the Assembly.

Briefing the Assembly of the government’s development initiatives, he said as his administration continue to invest heavily in the youth by expanding education and skills training opportunities, efforts would be made to protect the youth against destructive practices such as drug trafficking and use.

He cited the increase in provision of free school uniforms, free text books, and the elimination of over 1,000 schools under trees within the last two years, saying “we are confident that the right foundation is being built for take-off.”

“Ghana’s oil and gas find also gives us greater opportunity to create the necessary environment for sustainable job creating avenues to comprehensively beat down youth unemployment numbers,” he added.

Ghana, he said, was implementing a youth policy that is situating young men and women in the center of nation building, indicating that Ghana highly recognizes and appreciates the contributions of its youth in the development of our democracy and nation.

The government, he noted, believed that the adoption of the UN political declaration urging states to develop comprehensive policies and action plans to give more meaning to youth development, was commendable, especially in this International Year of the Youth.

Touching on other pertinent national and global issues such as conflict prevention, climate
change, gender development and human security, President Mills reiterated his administration’s
commitment to ensure a free and transparent general election in Ghana next year.

“Ghana’s democratic credentials stand tall and we intend to maintain the standards we have achieved,” he said, noting that the Electoral Commission was being resourced adequately to successfully conduct the elections in a free, fair and transparent manner to safeguard the rights of the citizenry.

He invited the international community keep an eye on Ghana’s 2010 election, as it did it 2008, saying the interest of the international community in Ghana was a source of encouragement for Ghana to conduct the elections peacefully.

According to him, the government had taken measures to strengthen the rule of law by enacting appropriate legislation to promote accountability and good governance, protect human rights, ensure the independence and integrity of the judiciary, free and fair elections, and the freedom of the media, all in an effort to maintain Ghana as a free and peaceful society.

On the international front, President Mills lauding the various initiatives being pursued by the UN to ensure a better world, and reaffirmed Ghana’s fullest commitment to the ideals of the UN and advocated the mustering of the necessary political will that would allow the UN to function more effectively and efficiently.

Ghana, he said, recognized the accomplishment of the UN in taking on complex peacekeeping and security dimensions that require long-term planning and strategic reforms to enable the global body effectively deal with peace-building challenges around the world.

In that regard, he said Ghana re-affirms her support for the on¬going reform agenda being undertaken by the UN in consultation with the Troop and Police Contributing Countries (TCCs and PCCs).

“We do, however, emphasize the importance of regular tripartite consultations between the Security Council, the Secretariat, and TCCs to ensure the successful execution of mandates in the respective peacekeeping operation areas,” he said.

“As one of the top contributors of troops and police personnel to UN peacekeeping operations, Ghana remains unwavering in its commitment to the ideals and objectives of the United Nations.

“Accordingly, I wish to assure you that as long as financial, material and human capacity exist at the national level, Ghana will continue to provide personnel and resources in support of UN peacekeeping and peace-building efforts,” he said.

In that direction, President Mills stressed the need to equitably share the burden and costs to the UN for policing conflict zones around the globe.

Ghana, he noted, fully supports the attainment of an Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), and expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the ATT Preparatory Committee meetings held early this year, saying the ATT was indispensable step in preventing the flow of conventional arms to destinations to threat the security of nations.

“For developing countries such as Ghana, the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and other conventional weaponry continues to pose a threat to our national security and socio-economic and political stability, given the former's close linkage to terrorism, organized crime, drugs and human trafficking, among others,” he said.

On gender issues, President Mills said it was critical for countries, as members of the global community, to break the gender stereotypes which are root causes of the myriad of gender inequality challenges currently facing most countries.

He informed the Assembly that Ghana remained focused in addressing gender imbalances and misconceptions as well as improving the living conditions of its women and girls, bearing in mind that solving the gender issue would ultimately ensure the attainment of the majority of the Millennium Development Goals.

On the occasion of the high-level meeting to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Durban Declaration Plan of Action for the fight against all forms of discrimination, he said Ghana recognized the progress achieved in that area and the opportunity given Member States to strengthen and renew political commitment in the prevention and fight against racism and racial discrimination in all its forms.

“We remain confident that the effective implementation of the outcome document will ensure the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, including victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance in all societies.

Touching on the complex issue of climate change, President Mills called for urgent and concerted action to maximize the opportunities climate change presents.

He was of the view that with the right investment in infrastructure, institutions and technology by both the international community and individual nations, “we can unleash the potential of agriculture, harness the multiple benefits of water resources, expand access to modern energy, step up the fight against diseases and conserve tropical forest.”

In addition, he said as climate change negotiations in Durban, South Africa, draws closer, there was a need for increased political commitment, strong leadership and a high sense of flexibility to support climate change mitigation initiatives.

He also lauded the progress made on the design of the institutions of adaptations such as the Green Climate Fund, and hoped that the sources of funding would be determined in time to so as for the Fund to achieve its objectives.
END