CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION             Background to the Study

The concept of security until the later part of the 20th century was focused on national security. The nature of security threats had often been seen as ensuing from external threat and more specifically external military threats (which requires a military response). With the end of the Cold War however, the concept of security has taken a broader dimension. It has been defined more and more in terms of transnational security or threats affecting the human security of the people of the world.

One key feature that threatens global security is the proliferation of illicit drugs (World Drug Report, 2010). The far-reaching consequences of drug trafficking has therefore attracted global attention for some measures to be taken to address it (Shehu, 2009). It is important to note that different actors have varied roles in the illicit drug enterprise. Whilst some actors are engaged in the production aspect, others deal with the distribution and some others engage in the consumption (World Drug Report, 2010). Hitherto, the African continent was relatively peripheral as far as illicit drug business was concerned but in recent times, it has assumed global significance due to its role as transshipment route of drugs to Europe and the Americas (Akyeampong, 2005; Aning, 2007). Indeed, Africa is the second largest producer of cannabis accounting for approximately 22% of production worldwide (UN, 2008). As observed by Bonsu (2011), the West African sub-region has become fertile ground for drug trafficking activities. Ghana finds itself within this arena that serves as transit routes for drug trafficking. Although production and consumption of illicit drugs in Ghana has not reached astronomical levels, it is increasingly used as a transit base (Atta-Asamoah, 2014). Notably, in 2005 Ghana was declared

as a major transit point for drugs trafficked to the United States of America, Europe, Asia etc. (US Department of State, 2005)

As Kofi Annan (2000) noted, “The demands we face also reflect a growing consensus that collective security can no longer be narrowly defined as the absence of armed conflict, be it between or within states. Gross abuses of human rights, the large-scale displacement of civilian populations, international terrorism, the AIDS pandemic, drug and arms trafficking and environmental disasters present a direct threat to human security, forcing us to adopt a much more coordinated approach to a range of issues.”

According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [UNODC] (2007) drug trafficking is global illicit trades involving the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Globalization, the liberalization of international markets and the suppression of borders have allowed the drug trade to flourish (ibid). The development of satellite communications and other technical advancements have endowed trafficking networks with new and efficient working tools to adapt, and better exploit the international system. Over time, analysts have drawn home the linkages between globalization and the growth of transnational forms of crime, particularly drug trafficking (Passas 1999; Passas, 2003). Globalization has contributed to the rise of global drug trafficking through ease of travel, communication and free flow of capital across various borders (Passas, 2003). The advancement of the internet has led to an expansion in global demand for and access to drugs, by expediting drug-related communications, coordination, and virtual transactions. This facilitates easy access to some drugs hitherto alien to a geographical location (Shehu, 2009).

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