Confiscating medicines from unapproved routes: A move in the right direction

 In a decisive move to tackle the growing influx of opioids in the country, the government, through the Min­ister of Health, Mr Kwabena Minitah Akandoh, ordered the immediate confiscation of all medicines brought into Ghana from unapproved routes.

Speaking at a recent event to induct new pharmacists into the Pharmacy Council in Accra, Mr Akandoh recounted the govern­ment’s determination to fight the menace which is destroying the country’s youth.

As part of the government’s efforts the Minister directed that apart from the Kotoka Inter­national Airport and the Tema Harbour, no medicines should enter the country through any other entry point.

In addition to this, clear instructions were issued that any such products found at any border other than the designated ones, no matter their registration status, be confiscated.

The Ghanaian Times views this as a move in the right direction, especially if only the directives would be strictly adhered to by those manning our borders.

It is one thing issuing clear directives and another getting them implemented.

The harmful effects of these opioids on our youth cannot be over-emphasised, and therefore require the collective efforts of all to combat the crisis.

We, however, find this task of confiscating medicines from unapproved routes as very chal­lenging given the fact that there are numerous unproved entry points into the country.

While the exact number of unapproved entry points into the country is not definitively known, reports indicate that there are over 250 unapproved routes along our borders.

These routes are frequently used for illegal crossings thus posing a challenge to border control and security.

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) acknowledges the existence of numerous unap­proved entry points, with reports suggesting numbers exceeding 250.

These unapproved routes are a major concern for national security, as they facilitate unau­thorised entry into the country, potentially including individuals involved in criminal activities.

The large number of unap­proved entry points makes it difficult for security forces to monitor and control border crossings effectively.

The concentration of un­approved routes vary across different border regions, with some areas being more porous than others, however, a number of specific unapproved routes have been identified in areas like the Volta Region.

This has helped the GIS in actively working to monitor and secure these routes, deploying personnel and resources to patrol the borders and intercept individuals attempting to cross illegally.

We are by this calling on all the officers working at the borders not to compromise their integrity by accepting bribes and allowing culprits to enter the country with contraband goods especially such destructive medicines.

It is important for our kith and kin who have been entrusted with the onerous responsibility of securing our borders to real­ise that theirs is not just a routine assignment, but a godly duty of not just securing, but protecting our very existence as a people.

To this end we admonish them as well as all public-spirited Gha­naians to collaborate to ensure that the government’s efforts does not become just lip service but actuality.