It’s nonsense to suggest NPP is panicked over NACOB’s threat – Jake

National Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey has described as nonsense any person who will suggest that the NPP is or has panicked over a threat issued by the Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board [NACOB], Mr. Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, that his radar is on politicians who dare use drug money to fund their campaign.

There has been massive public interest and even among politicians with members of the NPP asking the NACOB boss to name the individuals in the drug trade and using it to fund political activities. A local Newspaper, the Enquirer in its Wednesday June 29, 2011 edition suggested that the NPP is shaking in its pants over the threat.

But Mr. Obetsebi Lamptey who spoke on Adom TV’s Morning Show, Badwam on Multi TV on Wednesday said the debate on the fight against the trade must go beyond political parties just because one or two persons have been caught in the drug trade and concentrate on the negative ramifications of the drug trade on society.

Asked if the NPP would want to take the matter up the ladder of social discourse, Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said the NPP would consider it and discounted claims that the party whilst in power was complacent in enforcing the law against the illicit trade of narcotic drugs.

Deputy Minister of Information Ahmed Baba Jamal a panelist on the program urged the NACOB boss to concentrate on his job and stop the media war since it will not help in the fight. He agreed the fight must take a bi-partisan approach in order to be successful.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board [NACOB], Mr. Yaw Akrasi Sarpong has denied ever telling the Daily Graphic Newspaper that he had a list of politicians who are involved in the drug trade and are financing political parties. The paper quotes him as saying politicians can pressurize the Board to release the names.

He said the board would resist any intimidation and attempts to stampede it to make the list public and dared the politicians who had problems with the position of the board to go to court.

But speaking on Adom TV’s Morning Show Badwam on Multi TV, Mr. Sarpong said the paper had misrepresented him. Mr. Sarpong was particularly concerned about the first paragraph and said he was amazed for the slant put on the story by the state newspaper.

Asked if was surprised by the controversy generated in the public domain since he threw in the caution that politicians must stay away from drug funded campaigns, the NACOB boss said it was expected that the issue would generate controversy since the issue of drugs was of paramount interest which will occupy the minds of all. He sees it as a means of people making him account for his stewardship.

Source: Kwadwo Asare-Baffour Acheampong/Multi TV/Ghana