Blame Georgina Wood Committee For Not Finding 77 Parcels Of Cocaine

One time Chairman of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and Deputy Interior Minister under the New Patriotic Party, Captain Nkrabea Effah Dartey says the Georgina Wood Commission of Inquiry that was set up to investigate the disappearance of some 77 parcels of cocaine aboard the MV Benjamin vessel must be blamed for not getting to the bottom of the matter.

According to him, it was unfair to blame the NPP Government for the commission’s failure to trace the missing parcels.

Captain Effah Dartey, also a former Member of Parliament for Berekum who was speaking to Citi News on a wide range of issues expressed disappointment at how some kilograms of cocaine vanished from the custody of the Police.

The former NACOB Chairman therefore welcomes President Mills’ directive to reopen the cases as according to him, there remains more questions than answers.

President Mills during his Third state of the Nation Address on Thursday February 17 stated that he had ordered investigations to be reopened in the MV Benjamin cocaine saga in which over 70 parcels of cocaine disappeared into thin air.

Although some members of the NPP say the investigations will be a waste of time and resources, and an exercise in futility, Mr. Effah Dartey thinks there is the need to get to the bottom of the matter.

“If President Mills himself a Lawyer decides that he wants to reopen the enquiry, I don’t have problems with that. I was a little sad that the enquiry could not unearth all the details that needed to be brought to book. But if President Mills wants to reopen the enquiry I am all for it. I don’t think it’s a waste of time because I think there are still unanswered questions “he said.

The NPP scribe however disagrees with those who have suggested that the outcome of the previous investigations was a dent on the Kufuor administration.

“It is not a slight to the NPP administration. If it can be called a slight, then it is those investigators and commissioners. It should be put at their doorstep. I was also every surprised to hear that exhibits have disappeared from the police headquarters. Somebody has to answer for it. Those exhibits store keepers and their heads must answer for it” he said.

Captain Effah Dartey, also a failed Presidential and General Secretary aspirant of the NPP, called on the current crop of party leaders to go more to the grass roots if the party wants to win the 2012 elections.

“What I think they can do differently is to do more outing in the various constituencies because the time is drawing near. The more the people see them the better. What I noticed when I was a Deputy Minister was that in the constituencies, districts and villages, the people feel very happy and extremely excited when they see party leadership and Government officials coming to them. It’s a winning formula. You shouldn’t be sitting at a Party headquarters thinking that you are the Boss. You need to come down and leave the bureaucrats to handle the paper work. In 2000, Mr. J.A. Kufuor visited practically every constituency to stay in touch with the people and that made a lot of difference” he noted.