The Narcotics Control Commission has organised a seminar for over two hundred and fifty participants, mainly companies that deal with the handling of Precursor Chemicals and Controlled Substances.

The one-day seminar, which was facilitated by the Precursor Control Department of NACOC was under the theme: “Monitoring of controlled substances through effective collaboration to ensure public health and safety” .

It was also to promote transparency and accountability, with the object of increasing a sense of shared and common responsibility among stakeholders in addressing the threats of controlled substances to public health and safety.

The platform was to give stakeholders the opportunity to have access to the requisite information about policies on controlled substances and precursor chemicals, regulatory processes, and emerging trends to enhance compliance.

The Director-General of NACOC, Brig Gen Maxwell Obuba Mantey, in his remarks, commended participants for their interest and involvement in the seminar, which is the fourth edition to be held by the Commission.

He urged all to be alarmed and awakened in the monitoring of controlled substances through effective collaboration.

This he added will ensure a very robust public health and safety, which must be a collective effort by all stakeholders.

Brig Gen Mantey urged stakeholders to come together to curtail these lapses that may come up as a result of diverted controlled substances into wrong hands that has the tendency to fuel illicit enterprises, producing narcotics, psychotropic substances threatening the fabric of our society.

He admonished all to endeavour to protect public health and ensure community safety, as well as safeguarding the economy from the influence of illicit drug trafficking, this he said should be the primary objective for industry players.

“It is, however, becoming alarming, the rise in the non-medical use of prescription opioids particularly tramadol (red), and the diversion of pharamceuticals from legitmate supply chain to the illicit black market in the country”. He stressed.

On his part, Mr Alexander Twum-Barimah, the Deputy Director-General in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination of NACOC warned that those who will be found culpable against the law shall be dealt with in accordance with the law.

He called on stakeholders to support the Commission to enable clear out all nefarious actors who are engaging in all forms of illegalities pertaining to the Precursor chemicals diversion.

Participants were awarded certificates and other souvenirs.

Special awards were also given to some companies such as Richbay Chemicals Solutions Ltd, Hexagin Industries Ltd, Letap Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Jokams Ltd, Kofi Ababio and Sons Ltd, Dannex Aryton Starwin PLC, MES Equipment Ltd, Twellium Industrial Company Ltd and Golden Tower Ltd for best in the CSR category. Quality Control Company Ltd and Jonsakyi Trading Enterprise received awards for best in compliance.

Mina Chemicals Ltd and Vehrad Transport and Haulage Company Ltd were also acknowledged for being the best in advocacy.