By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Feb. 3, GNA – The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of the Interior has donated 10 new Navara pickup vehicles to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to strengthen its operational capacity in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
The investment reflects government’s sustained commitment to confronting Ghana’s drug problem through clear policy direction, well-resourced institutions, and enhanced national security interventions.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mr. Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, the Minister for the Interior, said under the leadership of President Mahama, the government remained focused on building professional, accountable, and results-driven security institutions that upheld the rule of law while protecting public health.
The Minister said since January 2025, the government had facilitated the provision of a total of 21 operational vehicles to NACOC, describing the latest addition as part of a deliberate effort to improve mobility, response time, surveillance, and interdiction nationwide.
“These vehicles are not symbolic; they are strategic assets meant to protect communities, disrupt criminal networks, and safeguard lives, and with continuous investment and institutional strengthening, NACOC will remain ahead of evolving drug-related threats,” he stressed.
He said recent enforcement outcomes demonstrated that the logistical support being provided to the Commission was yielding tangible results.
Mr. Mubarak said arrests related to narcotics offences rose from 56 cases in 2024 to 158 cases in 2025, representing a 182 per cent increase.
Over the same period, NACOC seized 840 kilograms of cannabis and 341 kilograms of cocaine, underscoring Ghana’s active role in detecting and disrupting international drug trafficking networks.
The Minister highlighted evolving drug trends, noting that tramadol accounted for 23 per cent of seized psychotropic substances, with the remaining 77 per cent comprising a growing range of other illicit drugs.
He revealed that NACOC intensified targeted enforcement patrols during the 2025 festive season through January 2026, focusing on identified hotspots in Accra and other strategic locations.
He said the special operations disrupted distribution networks at a critical time, strengthened deterrence, and contributed to the positive enforcement outcomes recorded at the start of 2026.
Mr. Mubarak said the government was supporting efforts to strengthen NACOC’s prosecutorial mandate, deepen collaboration with the Attorney-General’s Department, and advance discussions on establishing a specialised narcotics court to fast-track drug-related cases.
He urged NACOC management and officers to ensure the vehicles were used strictly for official duties, properly maintained, and deployed with professionalism and accountability.
Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director-General, NACOC, expressed appreciation to the government for the provision of the 10 Navara pickup vehicles to enhance the Commission’s operational effectiveness in combating narcotic trafficking and related crimes.
He also thanked the Minister for the Interior, describing the intervention as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to NACOC’s mandate and national security.
He said the addition of the vehicles aligned with the broader national agenda to strengthen law enforcement institutions with the necessary logistics to deliver results, stressing that
mobility remained critical to effective narcotics enforcement and the fight against organised crime.
“The Commission will use the new vehicles significantly to enhance our operational capacity by improving response times, expanding access to high-risk communities, and strengthening surveillance, interdiction, and intelligence-led operations nationwide,” he added.
Brig. Gen. Mantey assured government and the public that the vehicles would be responsibly deployed, properly maintained, and used strictly in furtherance of NACOC’s mandate to combat illicit drug trafficking, reduce drug abuse, and safeguard public safety.
He urged officers to see the support as a renewed call to duty and a reminder to uphold professionalism, integrity, and excellence in service.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei