The Minister for the Interior, Mr Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has inaugurated 10 Nissan Navara pickup vehicles for the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as part of government’s efforts to strengthen the Commission’s operational capacity in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and organised crime.
He said the intervention was aimed at improving mobility, enhancing response time and increasing the effectiveness of narcotics enforcement across the country, stressing that sustained investment in logistics was critical to addressing the evolving nature of drug-related crime.
The vehicles were commissioned on Monday at a handover ceremony in Accra.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the government of President John Dramani Mahama had, over the past year, intensified support for NACOC as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national security, protect public health and disrupt organised criminal networks.
He noted that since January 2026, government had facilitated the provision of a total of 21 operational vehicles to the Commission.
According to him, recent enforcement outcomes showed that the support was yielding results, with arrests increasing from 56 cases in 2024 to 158 cases in 2025, representing a 182 per cent rise.
During the same period, officers seized 840 kilogrammes of cannabis and 341 kilogrammes of cocaine, underscoring Ghana’s active role in detecting and disrupting international drug trafficking.
The Minister added that intensified enforcement patrols conducted between December 2025 and January 2026, particularly during the festive season, disrupted distribution networks in identified hotspots across Accra and other strategic locations, contributing to improved enforcement outcomes at the start of 2026.
He said government recognised that effective drug control extended beyond arrests and seizures, and would therefore continue to support efforts to strengthen prosecution through closer collaboration with the Attorney-General’s Department, including discussions towards the establishment of a specialised Narcotics Court to fast-track drug-related cases.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak urged management and officers of the Commission to ensure the responsible use and proper maintenance of the vehicles, describing them as strategic public assets intended to enhance surveillance, interdiction and nationwide outreach.
The Director-General of NACOC, Brigadier-General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, expressed appreciation to the Minister for securing the vehicles and personally commissioning them, describing the gesture as a clear demonstration of government’s commitment to narcotics operations and national security.
He said mobility remained essential to effective law enforcement, particularly in the fight against narcotic trafficking and organised crime, adding that the vehicles would significantly enhance operational reach, improve response times and enable officers to access high-risk communities when required.
Brigadier-General Mantey assured government that the vehicles would be responsibly deployed and properly maintained in line with the Commission’s mandate to combat illicit drug trafficking, reduce drug abuse and protect the safety and well-being of citizens.
He also urged officers and staff to uphold professionalism, integrity and excellence in the discharge of their duties.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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