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Ghana facing illicit opioids crisis

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Minister of Health, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) have issued stark warnings about the growing threat of illicit opioids in Ghana.

In a statement delivered to Parliament, Mr. Akandoh emphasized that the increasing infiltration of these dangerous substances is “a matter of grave public health and national security concern.”

“Mr. Speaker, the opioid crisis is not just a health issue but a national emergency. We need a coordinated and sustained response from all relevant sectors and the public,” he declared.

Unregistered drugs and border vulnerabilities

Mr. Akandoh revealed that Ghana’s Food and Drugs Authority had confirmed the presence of several unregistered Tramadol brands, including Trafanol, Tarapamol, and Tramaking, which have entered the country through unapproved routes.

He also cited a recent investigative report by BBC Africa Eye, which exposed the alleged exportation of unapproved drugs containing tapentadol and carisoprodol.

These revelations have intensified concerns over the effectiveness of current border controls and regulatory measures, highlighting vulnerabilities that illicit drug traffickers continue to exploit.

Immediate govt response and coordinated action

In response to the crisis, the Sector Minister informed Parliament that the Ministry of Health has taken immediate actions to combat the menace.

These measures include tightening border inspections to intensify checks at major entry points, increased monitoring of over-the-counter drug sales, seizure of unauthorised opioids, and initiating legal action against offenders.

In addition, a national education campaign has been launched to raise public awareness about the dangers of illicit opioid use.

The Minister also stressed the need for inter-agency collaboration, urging all relevant bodies to close loopholes, tighten regulations, and hold those responsible accountable.

“Mr. Speaker, we must close the loopholes, tighten the rules, and hold those responsible for this crisis accountable,” he stated.

Broad political and professional consensus

The alarming situation has garnered widespread attention from various political and professional stakeholders.

Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, NDC MP for Klottey Korle, described the phenomenon as truly alarming, citing the devastating impact of illicit drugs on public health and safety.

Mr. Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, NPP MP for Asante-Akim Central, highlighted the rising addiction among youth as a clarion call for strengthened border monitoring and enhanced cooperation between the Ministry of Health, Customs, and the Narcotics Control Board.

Professor Titus Kofi Bayuo, NDC MP for Lambussie, called for strict regulation of these drugs, warning that failure to do so would only exacerbate the widespread social and economic challenges associated with substance abuse.

PSGH condemns illicit importation

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has unequivocally condemned the illicit importation of highly dangerous opioids into Ghana and other West African countries.

In its statement, PSGH decried the proliferation of unapproved pharmaceutical products, particularly those containing tapentadol and carisoprodol, which pose severe public health risks.

The society referenced a BBC documentary that exposed how companies like Aveo Pharmaceuticals of India exported unlicensed and unregistered opioid formulations—such as Tafrodol, Timaking, and Super Royal-225—into Ghana.

These drugs, which are not approved for medical use anywhere in the world, have been linked to a rising number of addiction cases and severe health complications in the region.

Call for a thorough investigation and stronger controls

PSGH emphasized that the abuse of opioids has devastated communities, contributing to increased substance dependency, mental health disorders, and broader socio-economic challenges. The society called on regulatory agencies, including the FDA, the Pharmacy Council, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)-Customs Division, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service, the Narcotics Control Authority, the National Intelligence Bureau, and all other relevant bodies, to expedite a thorough, independent investigation into these allegations.

“If any local pharmaceutical company is found to have breached regulatory protocols, appropriate sanctions should be enforced to maintain the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain in Ghana,” PSGH stated.

Additionally, PSGH called for enhanced border controls, strict pharmaco-vigilance measures, interagency cooperation, and robust public education and awareness campaigns to combat the illicit opioid trade.

“The PSGH remains committed to ensuring that only safe, effective, and approved medicines are available in Ghana. We urge all stakeholders, including the government, regulatory bodies, healthcare professionals, and the general public, to join hands in combatting this dangerous illicit trade,” the statement concluded.

Source: NewsCenta

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Mahama to Host Zimbabwe President Mnangagwa for Three-Day State Visit

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President John Dramani Mahama is set to host Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on a three-day State Visit to Ghana from Wednesday, April 1 to Friday, April 3, 2026.

 

According to a statement from the Presidency, President Mnangagwa will arrive at the Accra International Airport at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, where he will be received with full military honours by President Mahama. The ceremony will feature an inspection of a Guard of Honour mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces, followed by a 21-gun salute.

 

Later in the evening, President Mahama will host a State Banquet in honour of his Zimbabwean counterpart, in celebration of the long-standing relations between the two countries.

 

The highlight of the visit will be bilateral talks between the two leaders at the Peduase Lodge. The discussions, which will begin with a tête-à-tête, are expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in key sectors including trade, tourism, health, sanitation, agriculture, anti-corruption efforts, and job creation.

 

Both leaders are also expected to preside over the signing and exchange of several Memoranda of Understanding aimed at deepening diplomatic and economic ties between Ghana and Zimbabwe.

 

As part of his itinerary, President Mnangagwa will visit the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre and the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant to gain insight into Ghana’s advancements in healthcare delivery and sustainable waste management.

 

He will also pay homage to Ghana’s founding father, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, by laying a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

 

President Mnangagwa is expected to depart Ghana on Friday, April 3, with full departure honours at the Jubilee Lounge.

 

The visit is anticipated to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation between Accra and Harare.

 

Read the statement below;

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Global InfoAnalytics: Mahama’s approval rating at 67%; economic optimism slips

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President John Dramani Mahama continues to enjoy strong public support, maintaining a 67% approval rating, according to a new poll by Global InfoAnalytics.

 

The survey released on March 25, 2026, showed that only 26% of voters disapprove of his performance, though it was a slight increase from 24% recorded in December 2025, while approval remains unchanged.

 

Support for President Mahama, according to the survey, spans all regions, including traditional opposition strongholds.

 

In the Ashanti Region, which is the stronghold of the opposition, New Patriotic Party (NPP), the poll showed that 56% of voters approve of his performance, while approval stands at 64% in the Eastern Region and 65% in the North East Region.

 

The poll also indicates that a majority of party affiliates back the president’s performance, except for supporters of the NPP.

 

In the direction of the country, 65% of respondents in the survey noted that Ghana is headed in the right direction, though there was a marginal drop from 66% in the previous quarter.

 

Meanwhile, 28% believe the country is on the wrong path, up from 24%, while those with no opinion declined from 10% to 7%.

 

Living standards appear to have improved for many Ghanaians, with 58% of voters saying their conditions are better than a year ago, compared to 16% who report a decline.

 

However, optimism about the future has dipped slightly. The poll found that 68% of voters expect their standard of living to improve over the next 12 months, down from 70% in the previous quarter, suggesting growing unease over potential inflationary pressures linked to the Middle East conflict.

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President Mahama Calls for Global Recognition of Slave Trade as Crime Against Humanity

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President John Dramani Mahama has called on the global community to acknowledge the transatlantic slave trade as a grave crime against humanity, urging nations to restore dignity and humanity to the millions of Africans who were trafficked and enslaved over 400 years.

High-Level Special Event on Reparatory Justice, convened by President John Dramani Mahama at the UN Headquarters on 24th March 2026, President Mahama emphasized the power of language in shaping consciousness, warning that “violence begins with language. When words are weaponised, or to codify abuse, when people are called out of their names.”

“There’s no such thing as a slave,” he said. “There were human beings who were trafficked and then enslaved by people who believed they could own those human beings as chattels, as their personal property. This is not the same thing if we acknowledge an individual’s humanity and respect their basic rights to dignity.”

President Mahama recounted the horrors of the Middle Passage, the brutal conditions of plantations, and the systematic erasure of African identity. “When slaves were captured, they were always stripped of their clothing, chained, and packed like sardines into the holds of cargo ships. Not all survived the voyage. Those who did were stripped of their names and given new ones like John, Jemima, or Mary, while some were branded like cattle with the plantation’s insignia.”

He cited the staggering scale of the trade: “Roughly six million enslaved Africans were trafficked to Brazil. Almost two million were trafficked to Jamaica, half a million to America, and over 450,000 to Barbados. These are not just numbers – these are human beings, human lives, families, hopes, and dreams stolen from them.”

Mahama also highlighted historical laws and codes designed to dehumanize Africans. “In 1662, the legal doctrine Partus Sequitur Ventrum was established in Virginia, declaring that children born of enslaved women would also automatically be enslaved, stripping them of their paternity and humanity in the eyes of the law.”

Warning against the dangers of historical erasure, the President said, “Earlier when discussing the importance of this resolution, I said it was a safeguard against forgetting. This is the type of forgetting that we are witnessing when black history courses are removed from curricula, and books about slavery, segregation, and racism are banned.”

President Mahama concluded with a call to collective action: “Tomorrow we vote on a historic resolution that will be another step in establishing truth. We stand united as Africans, whether on the continent or in the diaspora, and link up with people of conscience around the world to seek truth and justice, and restore the dignity and humanity of victims of the slave trade.”

“Truth begins with language,” he said. “Reclaiming racial equality, the dignity of Africans, and the humanity of our ancestors is a matter of our own humanity. Let us vote to establish truth so that together we can finally acknowledge the full horrors of these transgressions against humanity.”

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