ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF DRUG TRAFFICKING ON NATIONAL SECURITY: A CASE STUDY OF GHANA.

ABSTRACT Historical account of drug cultivation and trafficking in West Africa suggests that the menace is not a recent phenomenon but has its roots dating to as far back as the 1920s and 1930s. However, the 1960s witnessed the emergence of large scale smuggling of African-grown marijuana from Nigerian and Ghanaian which attracted national, regional and global attentions. However, the early 1980s witnessed a paradigm shift towards cocaine and heroin business often handled by Nigerians and their Ghanaian counterparts. Therefore, this study focuses on analysing impact of drug trafficking on the National Security of Ghana; with central focus to human security dimensions. Though drug trafficking is a global phenomenon, the scope of this study focuses primarily on impacts of drug trafficking on Ghana‘s national security. Despite the fact that, the concept of national security encapsulates both state security and human security, this study focuses essentially on analysing the impacts of drug trafficking from the human security perspective. The study is purely qualitative and relies primarily on literature review and interviews for data collection and analyses. From the study, drug trafficking in Ghana affects the economic, health, food, personal, political, environmental and community securities of citizens in the country. It also affects National Security of the country including increase in crime and violence rates in the country. The study also reveals that NACOB is the main government institution in the country enjoined to address and tackle the prevalence and menace of drug trafficking in the country. However, NACOB and the Government of Ghana face certain challenges to be able to effectively tackling the growing menace of drug trafficking in the country. Paramount among these challenges includes financial constraints and poor coordination between NACOB and its supportive institutions to enable it carry out its core mandates. Following from the findings, the study concludes that, Drug Trafficking in Ghana, has significant implications on the national security of the country; especially the human security of its populace. Towards this end, the study recommends that, the government should increase the number of personnel as well as the financial base and logistics of NACOB to be able to carry their mandates effectively. In addition, it also recommends that, there is a need for vibrant coordination between NACOB and its supporting institutions, especially among the Ghana Navy, NACOB and National Security to be able to effectively clamp the menace in the country.