I Am Aware Of How You Interfere With Customs Duties – Prof Kofi Bentil

Professor Kofi Bentil has stated that the Ghana Customs Division has the capacity and expertise to perform its legally mandated responsibilities effectively if allowed to operate without unnecessary interference from influential individuals and other government agencies.

In a statement shared on his Facebook wall, Bentil argued that customs officers should be given the freedom to carry out their duties independently, particularly in detecting and intercepting illegal drugs and other prohibited goods entering the country through its ports.

He stressed that the responsibilities of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) extend beyond waiting at the ports to search for illicit substances. According to him, the agency is expected to prevent, investigate and arrest drug-related activities across the country, including the distribution and movement of illegal drugs within Ghana.

Bentil questioned NACOC’s effectiveness, arguing that the widespread presence of illicit drugs in the country raises serious concerns about the agency’s performance. He suggested that the situation could indicate either a failure to adequately enforce the law or possible complicity among individuals responsible for combating the drug trade. However, these assertions were presented as his views and were not independently established.

He further argued that NACOC should pay greater attention to the domestic drug trade instead of concentrating primarily on activities at the ports. According to him, illegal substances continue to enter Ghana in significant quantities and are transported within the country, raising questions about the effectiveness of efforts to prevent their circulation.

Bentil maintained that the Customs Division has a clear responsibility to inspect goods entering and leaving the country through official ports of entry. He said customs officers possess the necessary knowledge and capabilities to identify suspicious consignments, seize prohibited substances and intercept other contraband, provided they are allowed to perform their duties without obstruction.

The professor also expressed concern about what he described as interference by powerful individuals and other government agencies in the operations of customs officers. He claimed to have considerable knowledge of how such interference occurs and argued that it undermines the ability of the division to function effectively.

He therefore called on those in positions of authority to respect the operational responsibilities of the Customs Division and allow its officers to carry out their legally assigned functions without undue influence.

Bentil maintained that granting customs officers the necessary independence would strengthen efforts to combat drug trafficking and the smuggling of prohibited goods. He argued that, with the appropriate freedom to operate, the division could detect suspicious shipments and intercept even entire containers filled with illicit drugs.

His remarks have drawn attention to the need for stronger coordination and accountability among agencies responsible for border security and the fight against narcotics trafficking in Ghana.

The central argument of Bentil’s statement is that combating the drug trade requires every relevant institution to fulfil its responsibilities effectively. While customs officers must be permitted to enforce border regulations, NACOC must also intensify efforts to identify drug-related activities beyond the ports, particularly the domestic distribution networks that allow illegal substances to circulate within the country.

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