The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has issued an urgent appeal to government for increased logistical support and resources to combat the alarming surge in illicit drug trafficking across Ghana, describing the situation as a national emergency.
During a working visit by the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior to NACOC’s headquarters in Accra, Acting Director-General Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey did not mince words, warning that drug cartels now pose as serious a threat to national security as armed robbery syndicates.
He said the influence of drug barons has grown so powerful that their operations now rival some of the country’s most dangerous criminal networks.
“These drug lords are becoming increasingly emboldened,” Brigadier General Mantey stated. “They are infiltrating communities, corrupting systems, and placing our officers at risk. The scale of their operations is frightening, and the threat they pose is now on par with armed robbery—if not greater.”
According to the NACOC boss, the Commission is currently detaining 19 suspected drug traffickers from various nationalities, including three British citizens, one South African, one Tanzanian, a Lebanese, two Nigerians, and eleven Ghanaians.
He also disclosed that NACOC recently intercepted a major drug shipment on June 29, further underscoring the growing complexity and reach of narcotics networks operating within Ghana’s borders.
However, he lamented that the Commission’s effectiveness is being severely undermined by inadequate funding and obsolete infrastructure.
Intelligence gathering, a vital part of NACOC’s mandate, has become especially difficult due to logistical shortfalls and the increasing expectation of financial incentives from whistle-blowers.
“There have been cases where informants demand immediate cash rewards before sharing information,” he revealed. “Some of us have had to personally provide funds just to secure leads. One informant took money and never returned. This work requires patience, trust, and proper motivation. Our staff are committed, but they need more institutional support to function effectively.”
Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, added that the situation is further complicated by deteriorating infrastructure and logistical breakdowns.
He cited non-functional body scanners at airport terminals, overcrowded detention facilities, poor office space, and aging vehicles that hamper mobility during field operations.
In a particularly alarming revelation, Dr. Ligbi proposed that NACOC headquarters be officially designated as a security zone.
He warned that private encroachments and the proliferation of high-rise buildings in close proximity have heightened the security risk to personnel and intelligence assets housed at the facility.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior, James Agalga, described the visit as an eye-opener. He expressed deep concern about the challenges NACOC faces and vowed to present their grievances to Parliament.
He also advocated for a national policy shift in dealing with drug users who have developed addiction disorders.
“There needs to be a conversation about treatment and rehabilitation,” Agalga said.
“We should not be criminalising people who are victims of drug abuse. We must consider policy reforms that focus on public health alongside enforcement.”
Echoing these sentiments, the Ranking Member of the Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, emphasized the need to incentivize public cooperation.
“NACOC’s success depends heavily on intelligence, and that means building trust with the public,” he noted.
“We must make room in the national budget for supporting whistle-blowers and providing the Commission with the technology and mobility it needs.”
