The Political Economy of Drug Trafficking in West Africa: A Comparative Study of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau

Abstract

This study examined the political economy of drug trafficking in West Africa and how drug trafficking influences the economy. The study utilizes the transnational security threats as the main theory for its analysis. The study is purely qualitative and relies primarily on literature review and interviews as sources of data. The study finds that the common drugs trafficked through both countries are cannabis, cocaine, heroin and hashish. The antecedent conditions of harsh economic circumstances, advantageous geographical position and a vulnerable state apparatus are also evident in the environment leading up to the rise of the drug trafficking economy of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau. The study finds that whereas these conditions arose in Ghana mainly due to economic mismanagement and years of political instability, the Guinea- Bissau case came about due to a historically weak and unstructured economic system coupled with armed conflict during their brief but devastating civil war. Most of these drugs are brought into the sub-region using large commercial fishing or freight ships. After the drugs arrive in Ghana and are re-packaged, drug mules carry them aboard commercial flights to their destinations in Europe and America. The situation differs, however, in Guinea-Bissau. Due to Bissau’s poorly developed aviation system, the re-packaged drugs must be transported through ground routes to Gambia, Senegal or Mali before drug mules carry them to their final destinations using the relatively more developed aviation system in those nations. The main actors in the drug trafficking trade in both Nations are principally three. The most pivotal actors are the Latin American drug trafficking syndicate. The second actors are local collaborators who were primarily made up of entrepreneurs who may have had previous dealings with these drug trafficking groups in Europe or Latin America. The third group is the Politico-Military elite. The main actors in Ghana’s drug trade is similar to that of Guinea- Bissau, although the third group of actors in Ghana differ slightly from the third group of actors in Guinea-Bissau. In place of the Politico-Military elite, who functions as the third actors in Guinea-Bissau, are the complacent security officials in Ghana. The success of the drug trade in these countries can be narrowed down to the close collaboration between these three key actors to take advantage of the permitting environment presented by the countries. The approach of the two government in addressing the drug trade is similar. Measures formulated to address these issues revolve around the key tenants of demand reduction, supply reduction, development programmes related to the prevention or reduction of illicit crops, production or trafficking of drugs, control measures and money laundering. The large profits derived from the drug trade have a marked effect on the relatively fragile economies of both countries. There exist a large body of stories and anecdotes which strongly suggest a nexus between politics and the drug trade. Measures have been put in place by both countries which are hinged on collaboration with foreign agencies to combat the drug trade, but it is evident that a lot remains to be done.