Ghana and the Netherlands have signed a special Letter of Intent to strengthen cooperation in the fight against illicit drugs and drug markets.

The agreement was signed by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Netherlands’ Minister of Justice and Security, D.M. Van Weel, during the Dutch Minister’s official visit to Ghana.

In a post on Facebook, Mr Ablakwa said the agreement builds on the Accra Call to Action and is intended to deepen international collaboration in tackling the illicit drug trade.

He said Ghana and the Netherlands aim to provide global leadership in addressing the drug problem, which he said is destroying young lives, undermining public health, weakening the rule of law and affecting human rights.

“We are confident that genuine and reliable international collaboration will eliminate drug markets flooding our countries with cocaine, synthetics and criminal money,” Mr Ablakwa said.

He expressed appreciation to the Dutch Minister for his visit to Ghana and described him as a friend.

The agreement forms part of efforts by both countries to strengthen cooperation against illicit drug networks and the criminal activities associated with the trade.