The Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, has painted a dire picture of the worsening drug situation in Ghana.
According to him, the worsening drug situation should be seen as a national emergency, stressing that narcotics networks are becoming as dangerous as armed robbery syndicates, with some reportedly infiltrating high levels of influence.
The Director General called for immediate institutional support, improved logistics, and morale-boosting measures to protect the integrity and effectiveness of NACOC officers, who he described as “frontline defenders against a silent war.” He warned of the growing threats posed by drug traffickers and operational constraints hampering the agency’s effectiveness.
This came to light during a working visit by Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee to NACOC headquarters.
The visit according to the committee is aimed at assessing the agency’s capacity to combat the rising drug menace in the country.
In a presentation to the Committee, Head of NACOC’s Research Bureau, Dr. Basha Ligbi, outlined a series of critical operational challenges undermining the Commission’s work.
These he noted include malfunctioning body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office space, overcrowded detention centres, and a fleet of deteriorating vehicles.
Dr. Ligbi further urged that the Commission’s headquarters be designated a security zone, warning of increasing security risks due to private encroachments and the construction of high-rise buildings near the premises.
On his part, the Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee and Member of Parliament for Builsa North, Mr. James Agalga, commended NACOC for its resilience and pledged to highlight the agency’s concerns on the floor of Parliament.
-GBC-