The International Narcotics Control Board⁶ has published the following figures for the consumption of narcotic drugs in Ghana: codeine 20kg; dihydrocodeine 5kg; pethidine 50kg (2001).

For the years 2000-2002, the average defined daily dose consumption of morphine for statistical purposes (S-DDD)⁷ in Ghana was 0. This compares with other African countries as follows: Swaziland 1; Egypt 2; Uganda 4; Zimbabwe 13; Namibia 73; South Africa 103. Twenty nine countries reported no morphine consumption during 2000-2002 (Table 1).

 A restrictive policy limits the use of opiate drugs in Ghana.⁸

Table 1 Average daily consumption of defined daily doses (for statistical purposes) of morphine per million inhabitants, 2000-2002: countries of Africa

Source: International Narcotics Control Board Narcotic Drugs: Estimated World Requirements for 2004. Statistics for 2002. New York: United Nations, 2004.