Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for a decisive and united regional response to combat the fast-spreading synthetic drug crisis engulfing West Africa. Speaking at the closing ceremony of a two-day International Conference and Regional High-Level Dialogue on Drug Markets in West Africa in Accra, he described the situation as one of the most serious and urgent threats to the region’s stability, public health and development.

The conference brought together ministers, security chiefs, international partners and experts to assess the evolving landscape of illicit drug markets and to adopt the Accra Call to Action on Drug Markets in West Africa. It was jointly hosted by Ghana, the Netherlands, and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).

Synthetic Drugs: From Transit Threat to Domestic Crisis

Ablakwa emphasised that West Africa’s drug challenges have shifted sharply. The region, once treated primarily as a transit corridor, is now grappling with domestic production, consumption, and addiction.

“We are witnessing the disturbing growth of domestic drug consumption and the rapid emergence of synthetic drug markets,” he said, citing substances such as kush, synthetic opioids, and codeine-based cocktails that mimic the effects of cocaine and heroin.

The minister warned that these drugs—cheap, highly potent, and often mixed with unknown chemicals—are devastating communities, particularly young people, and pushing public health systems to the brink.

A Multi-Layered Regional Strategy

Discussions over the two days underscored the need for a multi-sectoral approach, involving:

• cross-border intelligence sharing
• law enforcement collaboration
• improved forensic and laboratory capacity
• rehabilitation and treatment services
• education, prevention, and community engagement

Ablakwa reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the ECOWAS Plan of Action on Drug Control (2020–2030) and the UNODC Strategic Vision for Africa, urging coordination and harmonised legal standards across the region.

Emerging Synthetic Drug Markets

Experts warned that West Africa is becoming one of the most attractive markets for synthetic substances—many of which are far more unpredictable and lethal than traditional narcotics.

Studies presented at the conference revealed rising circulation of:

• synthetic cannabinoids
• nitazenes
• tramadol derivatives
• methamphetamine

These compounds are often blended with unidentified additives that significantly increase addiction risk, overdose probability, and long-term neurological harm.

Participants also highlighted how online platforms, postal networks and global supply chains have lowered the entry barriers for criminal groups, enabling low-cost drug manufacturing hubs and accelerating fragmented trafficking networks.

A Criminal, Economic and Development Challenge

Ablakwa stressed that the crisis is not merely a policing issue—it is a development challenge rooted in inequality.

“Drug trafficking and illicit drug markets are both a symptom and a driver of deeper socio-economic inequality,” he said, pointing to youth unemployment, poverty, weak governance and limited social protection as factors that embolden criminal networks.

Five Priorities Outlined by Ablakwa

The minister called for urgent political leadership and proposed five coordinated priorities:

1. Enhanced intelligence sharing among West African nations.
2. Expanded forensic testing capacity to identify and monitor new compounds.
3. Stronger financial disruption tools to dismantle drug networks’ money infrastructure.
4. Scaled-up prevention and early intervention, including school-based programmes.
5. Accessible, rights-based rehabilitation and treatment systems.

Call to Action

The conference concluded with renewed commitment to the Accra Call to Action, which emphasises data-driven drug policy, stronger regional cooperation, protection of vulnerable populations and adherence to human rights and public health principles.

Ablakwa urged participants to translate statements into measurable progress:

“We must move beyond declarations to measurable progress… Ghana stands ready to continue working closely with all her partners and sister states to build a safer, healthier and more secure West Africa.”