By Edward Dankwah
Accra, Aug. 12, GNA – Moot Digital Services Limited (MDSL) has presented a range of Information Technology (IT) equipment to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as part of its corporate social responsibility initiative aimed at supporting state-owned institutions to strengthen their digital capacity.
The donation included two industrial printers, two servers, two 2,000 VA UPS units, five projectors, a drone and drone bag, four all-in-one computers, 10pcs 1,200 VA UPS units, 50pcs laptops and five iPads.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr. Daniel Afari, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MDSL, said the gesture was informed by the company’s experience working with NACOC and its observation of some of the technology gaps within the Commission.
He said MDSL, through its long-standing relationship with Trignets, deployed a nationwide medical screening and data-capturing portal during the recent security service recruitment exercise, which provided the company with first-hand insight into some of the technological needs of state institutions.
“The engagement gave us a close but first-hand view to the probable technology gaps within NACOC, driving us to embark on this initiative,” he added.
Mr. Afari said the company’s support would go beyond the donation, announcing plans to assist NACOC in developing a national incident reporting system based on an architecture similar to the medical screening portal.
He said the proposed system would be remotely accessible across NACOC’s regional offices and sub-units, enabling real-time reporting and information sharing, and would incorporate features such as geo-location, media, and document attachments, as well as analytical tools to support decision-making.
Mr Afari said MDSL would work closely with NACOC’s IT and strategy teams in the planning and development of the system to ensure that it responded effectively to the Commission’s operational needs.
He noted that the initiative could provide a foundation for broader technical collaboration between the two institutions, particularly in areas connected to NACOC’s proposed national mandatory drug screening programme.
The CEO of MDSL said the programme was expected to rely heavily on IT infrastructure and digital systems, making the strengthening of NACOC’s technological capacity important to its successful implementation.
Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director General of NACOC, welcomed the support from MDSL, stating that the intervention would strengthen the Commission’s efforts to combat drug-related activities and educate the public on the dangers of narcotics.
He said the Commission’s objective since taking control of its operations had been to build a professional institution capable of effectively educating the youth and enforcing Ghana’s anti-narcotics laws.
Major General Mantey said although the government had provided support to the Commission, competing demands on the national budget made it necessary for NACOC to seek assistance from benevolent institutions, organisations and well-meaning individuals.
He expressed appreciation to MDSL for responding to a casual conversation with the company and turning it into tangible support for the Commission.
“The Commission was not established to intimidate people or make life difficult for citizens, but to help safeguard Ghana and the sub-region from the security and safety threats associated with narcotics.” he stressed.
The Director-General urged individuals involved in drug-related activities to use what he described as their “grace period” to reform before they were apprehended by law enforcement authorities.
He said the IT equipment donated by MDSL, particularly, the computers and projectors, would support both enforcement and public education activities, including educating young people in schools about the dangers of drug abuse.
Major General Mantey added that the proposed use of technology for on-the-spot reporting would also enhance NACOC’s operational efficiency.
He was particularly impressed by MDSL’s commitment to providing technical support beyond the equipment, saying NACOC needed strong systems to maintain accurate records and meet international best practices.
The Director-General expressed hope that the partnership with MDSL would continue, including through technical guidance and further support to the Commission.
He called on Ghanaians to make drug education a collective responsibility, urging people to use everyday interactions to spread awareness about the dangers of narcotics.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei