Kofi Annan Launches West Africa Commission on Drugs
Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, to chair high level body on growing threat to regional stability
Accra, 31 January- Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today unveils a major new initiative to help tackle the growing threat from illegal drug trafficking in West Africa.
The West Africa Commission on the Impact of Drugs on Governance, Security and Development (WACD) is being launched today at the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Centre in Accra, Ghana.
The Commission has been formed in response to the dramatic surge in drug trafficking through West Africa over the past decade. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, illegal drug trafficking is linked to criminal activity and terrorist activities in the region and is fuelling increased local consumption of illegal drugs.
The Commission has been established by the Kofi Annan Foundation, in consultation with international and regional partners, national governments and civil society organizations. It comprises a group of distinguished West Africans, including two former heads of state. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria, will serve as its chair.
The Commission aims to:
• Develop evidence based policy recommendations for political and civil society leaders on how to address drug trafficking
• Mobilise public awareness and political commitment around the issue; and
• Promote local and regional capacities to deal with drug trafficking
Kofi Annan says: “The massive surge in drug trafficking in West Africa over the last decade presents a serious and growing threat to the region’s stability and development. Left unchecked, illegal drug trafficking could compromise the encouraging progress that West African nations have made in strengthening democracy and promoting human and economic development.”
Olusegun Obasanjo says: “The trade in illegal drugs has already caused devastation in other regions of the world. We must all work together to prevent West Africa from experiencing the same fate. The Commission looks forward to its urgent and important work”.
The Commission will publish a comprehensive report later this year.
Further information is available on the website of the Commission: www.wacommissionondrugs.org
– The Commission was launched in response to a meeting of experts in the field in Dakar in April 2012, which cautioned that the problem of drug trafficking in West Africa was growing more serious.
– Drug trafficking from Latin America through West Africa to Europe and North America has significantly increased in recent years.
– The increased drug trafficking and consumption poses a threat to the peace and stability, governance and public health of West Africa.
– Organised crime groups are working in West Africa to support drug trafficking through the region and as a result West Africa is no longer just a transit route but also a final destination as local consumption increases.
– West African governments are ill-equipped to control the trafficking and organised crime, often facing under-funding, internal corruption and limited inter-agency cooperation.
– The Commission will analyse the problems of trafficking and dependency to deliver an authoritative report and comprehensive policy recommendations by the end of 2013.
– In addition to undertaking wide-ranging consultations for the report, the Commission will also engage in a follow-up advocacy campaign with governments, regional and international bodies, civil society and the media.
– The Commission members include :
– Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria
– Pedro Pires, Former President of Cape Verde
– Dr. Idrissa Ba, Professor, Psychiatric Hospital of Thiaroye
– Justice Bankole-Thompson, Sierra Leone Special Tribunal
– Alpha Abdoulaye Diallo, National Coordinator, Réseau Afrique Jeunesse
– Mary Chinery Hesse, Member, African Union Panel of the Wise
– Gilbert Houngbo, Former Prime Minister of Togo
– Christine Kafondo, Founder, Association Espoir pour Demain
– Adeolu Ogunrombi, Project Coordinator YouthRISE project on drug policy reform in Nigeria and West Africa
– Mahmou Ould Mohamedou, Visiting Professor, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies Head, Regional Development Programme, Geneva Centre for Security Policy
– Oumou Sangaré, A Grammy-award winning singer, Oumou Sangaré is known as the “songbird of Wassoulou” and an ambassador for the music of Mali
– Follow the Commission on Facebook: – http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Africa-Commission-on-Drugs/134447500051521
– Follow the Commission on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WACommission
For media inquiries please contact:
Sebastian Brack: brack@kofiannanfoundation.org; +41 79920 2183
Alan Doss: doss@kofiannanfoundation.org; +41 79680 9553; +41 76549 4088
