Ghana’s opioid crisis is set to come under intense scrutiny as the IMANI Center for Policy and Education prepares to release a comprehensive investigative report.
The think tank’s findings, drawn from months of research involving AI analysis, field intelligence, and insider accounts, promise to reshape the national conversation on drug regulation and border control.
IMANI’s President Franklin Cudjoe revealed alarming details ahead of the report’s publication, stating that dangerous opioids like tafrodol, tapentadol, and high-dose tramadol—known on Ghanaian streets as “Tramo” and “Red”—are entering the country through legal channels. “These shipments are being cleared at ports as routinely as everyday goods,” Cudjoe emphasized, noting the drugs’ severe neurological risks, particularly for youth.
The report will build on earlier work by IMANI Vice President Bright Simons, exposing how Ghana has become a regional hub for opioid trafficking due to systemic regulatory failures. Cudjoe warned that criminal networks from Nigeria, Niger, and Burkina Faso are exploiting Ghana’s porous controls, calling the situation a “ticking time bomb” demanding immediate action.
With the full report pending final consultations with stakeholders, IMANI is urging health professionals, civil society, and policymakers to treat the crisis as a national emergency. The findings could force a reckoning for Ghana’s drug enforcement framework as the country grapples with a growing threat to public health and security.
As West Africa confronts rising opioid abuse, IMANI’s data-driven approach highlights a critical gap between policy and enforcement. The report’s release may prove pivotal in mobilizing coordinated efforts to stem the flood of addictive substances before more lives are compromised.
