Ghana is facing a growing crisis linked to the illegal inflow and abuse of opioids, particularly a dangerous combination of unapproved drugs.
A recent BBC investigation revealed that one pharmaceutical company, Aveo, has been illegally exporting a harmful mix of tapentadol and carisoprodol to Ghana and other West African countries.
The issue has not only raised concerns about public health and addiction but also posed significant security and regulatory challenges.
In response, the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has outlined a series of measures aimed at strengthening regulatory oversight and enforcement to curb the inflow of illicit opioids.
Hon. Mintah Akandoh, expressed grave concerns over the nature of the illegal opioids being circulated in Ghana. He described the crisis as a “deliberate poisoning” of the population, as these drugs were not designed for medical purposes.
“They have never been used anywhere, and the combination is a terrible combination of a potent maxorelaxant and a very addictive opioid. And when you take these two combined in one formulation, it is unacceptable.’’
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh Minister of Health
The Minister warned that addiction to these substances could place a heavy burden on the nation.
“As a country, public rehabilitation centers are not more than three. We have very few rehabilitation centers, and the outcomes of rehabilitation, especially of drug addiction, is also not very promising. For every ten patients who go to rehabilitation, just three to five may successfully get out of it. Relapse is very high. So, for those who get hooked onto it, getting out becomes a serious challenge.”
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh Minister of Health
Regulatory Failures and FDA Involvement
Hon. Akandoh attributed the widespread inflow of illicit opioids to regulatory failures. He stressed the need for a robust interagency response, involving institutions such as the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Control Commission, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and Customs. According to him, these agencies have intensified efforts at major entry points, leading to the seizure and destruction of a large consignment of illegal opioids such as tapentadol.
The Minister highlighted several key measures kept in place to deal with the situation, these include.
Enhanced border inspections; The joint task force has intensified monitoring at major entry points.
Tighter regulation of drug sales; Over-the-counter sales are now being closely monitored, with unauthorized pharmacies facing legal action.
Public awareness campaign; The government has launched a national education initiative to warn citizens about the dangers of illicit opioid use and promote responsible medication practices.
There is also the strengthening of import controls and licensing to prevent unauthorized drugs from entering the market.
The Ministry has also deepened law enforcement and intelligence sharing between the FDA, Customs, and the Narcotics Control Commission.
“It is important to note the critical need for an interagency response to this crisis. The FDA works closely with multiple government and security agencies to enhance enforcement, intelligence sharing, and regulatory compliance. While these immediate actions have helped to contain the situation, more needs to be done to permanently shut down the supply of illicit opioids into Ghana.’’
Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh Minister of Health
Opioid Crisis and Security Concerns
Moreover, MP for Korle Klottey, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, provided a sobering account of how the opioid crisis is affecting communities, particularly in her constituency.
“As a matter of fact, in my constituency, we have a cluster of schools, Nii Amugi cluster of schools, where people who are addicted to drugs have invaded the premises, where they harass children, they harass the teachers. Recently, in the last three weeks, one of the security personnel in the school was attacked by a gang of drug addicts and he’s now in 37 Military Hospital, in a coma.’’
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings MP for Korle Klottey
Hon. Agyeman-Rawlings emphasized that the ramifications of the opioid crisis extends beyond health concerns—it has become a national security issue. She warned that drug addiction is contributing to rising crime rates and threatening public safety in schools.
“The law enforcement agencies responsible for this, need to be strengthened. We had, up until a few weeks ago, a collaboration between the U.S. government, specifically the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs with the government of Ghana in helping to combat some of this transnational crime and illicit drug use.’’
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings MP for Korle Klottey
Hon. Agyeman-Rawlings concluded by stressing that the opioid crisis requires a coordinated, multidimensional response. She urged government agencies, security forces, and civil society organizations to work together to address the root causes of the crisis and prevent further harm to Ghanaian communities.
While the government has taken significant steps to curb the illegal inflow of opioids, regulatory loopholes, porous borders, and rising addiction rates continue to pose major challenges. The crisis not only threatens public health but also has serious implications for national security and social stability.
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