Accra: GIZ Ghana has officially handed over two specially trained detection dogs to the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to strengthen Ghana's fight against drug trafficking and illicit financial flows. The K9 dogs, both one-year-old Springer Spaniels, were bred and trained in the United Kingdom by Gentium UK Limited.
According to Ghana News Agency, the handover was part of the broader efforts of the Participation, Accountability, and Integrity for a Resilient Democracy (PAIReD) programme. This initiative was commissioned by Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), co-financed by the European Union (EU) and Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and implemented by GIZ Ghana in partnership with Ghana's Ministry of Finance.
Brigadier General Glover Ashong Annan, Commissioner of the Customs Division, speaking at the event, highlighted the significance of the donation in the fight against narcotics. He noted that West Africa had witnessed a surge in drug trafficking and opioid abuse, particularly among youth, emphasizing that 'these dogs will significantly enhance our ability to detect and intercept dangerous substances at our borders.'
He also expressed appreciation to the German government and Gentium UK for their 'unwavering and continued support,' describing the collaboration as an example of how development partners and national institutions can work together toward public safety and national security. The Commissioner assured partners that the dogs would be used effectively and ethically, and signaled the Customs Division's intention to expand the K9 unit further.
However, Brig. Gen. Annan stressed that 'technology alone is not enough,' pointing to detection dogs as one of the most effective tools for tracing concealed drugs. 'This initiative is a milestone in our broader border security strategy,' he added.
