Accra, July 22, GNA - Ghana and the United States are to sign a bilateral agreement to combat drug trafficking and detection following Cabinet's approval of amendments to the Drug Detection Agreement between both countries, Interior Minister Papa Owusu Ankomah said on Friday. This follows a letter to the Ministry from the US Embassy in Ghana requesting for amendments to the agreement to reflect current trends in drug trafficking and detection.

The US Government has been supporting Ghana in respects of drug detection and the prosecution of offenders in narcotics cases. This came to the fore when the US Ambassador in Ghana, Madam Mary Carlin Yates called on the Minister to formally announce the end of her duty tour to the country.

Ms Yates leaves at the end of August.

Papa Owusu Amkomah also said that the Human Trafficking Bill would be laid before Parliament on Tuesday July 26, and expressed the hope that it would be deliberated on before the House went on recess. He said the US had always been a supportive partner to Ghana and commended Madam Yates for distinguishing herself as a worthy ambassador of her country.

The Minister lauded her cooperation with the security agencies, particularly her initiative in securing the US assistance to the Police Service in terms of training and wished her well as she rounded off her duty tour of Ghana.

Madam Yates commended the cooperation between the governments of both countries, and expressed the hope that the bond between them would be further strengthened to the benefit of Ghana and the US.