INCB Mission to the Republic of Ghana
An INCB mission visited Ghana from 15 to 17 April 2015. The mission was conducted by the Second Vice-President of the Board, Dr.Viroj Sumyai, accompanied by Ms. Ha Fung NG (Cilla) of the INCB Secretariat. The purpose of the mission was to discuss specific issues related to the country's implementation of the three international drug control conventions. The previous mission to Ghana was conducted in 2005.
The mission met with officials from the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Interior; the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General; the Ministry of Education; the Food and Drugs Authority; the Ghana Standards Authority; the Narcotics Control Board; the Police; the Environmental Protection Agency; and the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service. The mission also had the opportunity to visit the Accra Psychiatric Hospital. Meetings were held with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, World Health Organization, and the Consortium of Non-Governmental Organizations on Drug Abuse and Prevention.
Deliberations focused on the drug abuse situation in Ghana; its legal and institutional framework for drug control; the Government's cooperation with INCB; measures taken to control narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals diverted to their illicit manufacture; policies to ensure access to medicines containing internationally controlled substances; demand reduction; and treatment and rehabilitation of drug users.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its forthcoming session in May 2015 and will be reflected in the INCB Annual Report for 2015, which will be published in early 2016.
Dr. Viroj SUMYAI (second from left), the Second Vice-President of the Board, in discussion with Mr. Hudu MOGTARI (first from left), Chief Executive Officer, Food and Drugs Authority, Ghana. Also in the picture: Ms Ha Fung NG (third from left), of the INCB secretariat, Ms Olivia BOATENG (first from right), Head, Tobacco and Substance of Abuse Department, Food and Drugs Authority and Mr. Seth SEANEKE (middle) Deputy Chief Executive, Drug Registration and Inspectorate Division, Food and Drugs Authority