The Majority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has called for stronger cooperation among security and law enforcement agencies to intensify the fight against narcotics trafficking and drug-related crime in the country.
The Majority said combating the illegal drug trade should not be left to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) alone, stressing that effective enforcement requires coordinated efforts among institutions responsible for intelligence gathering, screening, investigation, prosecution and asset recovery.
Majority Leader James Agalga made the call during a press briefing in Parliament, where he outlined measures and challenges in Ghana’s fight against narcotics trafficking.
According to Mr Agalga, agencies including NACOC, the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority must strengthen intelligence sharing and operational cooperation to disrupt drug trafficking networks.
Majority Highlights NACOC Resource Challenges
Mr Agalga said NACOC had historically faced challenges including inadequate staffing, limited resources and institutional constraints, which affected its ability to respond effectively to increasingly sophisticated narcotics trafficking operations.
He also raised concerns about the 2018 decision to exclude NACOC from mandatory joint inspections at the Tema Port, arguing that the move weakened an important part of Ghana’s narcotics detection and interdiction system.
The government has since reinstated NACOC’s participation in joint port inspections as part of renewed efforts to prevent illegal drugs from entering or transiting through Ghana.
Special Court for Narcotics Cases
The Majority Leader also highlighted the establishment of a special court for narcotics-related offences.
He said drug cases had previously been handled through the regular criminal justice system, where they competed with other cases for judicial attention. According to Mr Agalga, this contributed to delays and a backlog of narcotics cases.
The specialised court, he said, is intended to accelerate the prosecution of drug-related offences and improve the effectiveness of Ghana’s narcotics laws.
NACOC Records Increase in Drug Arrests
Mr Agalga cited NACOC enforcement statistics to demonstrate what he described as increased activity in the fight against drug trafficking.
According to figures he presented, NACOC recorded 73 arrests nationwide in 2024, while enforcement operations in 2025 resulted in 217 arrests across 165 cases. He described the increase as a 197 percent rise.
He also reported that NACOC seized 1,497.75 kilogrammes of narcotic substances in 2025, with an estimated street value of about US$5.24 million. In addition, 61,974 units of controlled substances, including pharmaceutical opioids and new psychoactive substances, were reportedly seized.
Cash and Gold Seized in Suspected Drug-Money Laundering Cases
The Majority Leader said enforcement operations also focused on the financial activities associated with narcotics trafficking.
According to Mr Agalga, authorities seized GH¢6.93 million and US$440,382 in cash, alongside 19.72 kilogrammes of gold allegedly connected to suspected drug-money laundering activities.
He further disclosed that 32,122.42 kilogrammes of narcotic substances had been destroyed, including more than five million tablets of tramadol.
Government Plans Additional NACOC Recruitment
Mr Agalga said the government had approved the recruitment of 2,200 additional personnel for NACOC, describing the move as part of efforts to address staffing shortages and strengthen the Commission’s operational capacity.
He also pointed to the expansion of NACOC’s district-level presence as another measure intended to improve drug enforcement across Ghana. Reports from the briefing indicate that the Commission’s District Commands have expanded significantly, with operations now covering all 16 regions.
Call for Unified Approach to Drug Trafficking
The Majority Caucus said Ghana’s response to drug trafficking, cocaine smuggling, tramadol abuse and other narcotics-related offences requires sustained collaboration among all relevant institutions.
The caucus maintained that stronger intelligence sharing, coordinated inspections, effective investigations, timely prosecution and asset recovery would be critical to disrupting organised drug trafficking networks operating in or through Ghana.
The latest parliamentary intervention comes amid heightened public attention on narcotics seizures and drug trafficking cases in Ghana, with Parliament expected to continue discussions on the country’s response to the issue.
Source: newsthemegh.com