Accra: Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called for increased support for the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and its allied institutions by providing the essential tools, training, and resources necessary to stay ahead of evolving drug-related threats.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Vice President emphasized the need for proactive support from the government, individuals, security agencies, corporate bodies, and various drug-related institutions due to the rapidly changing tactics of narcotics traffickers. Speaking at the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Accra, also known as 'World Drug Day,' she highlighted the theme, 'The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention.'
Prof Opoku-Agyemang noted Ghana's commitment to fighting drug abuse and dismantling trafficking networks since the United Nations declared World Drug Day in 1987. Significant progress has been made against conventional narcotics like cocaine, heroin, and cannabis through demand and supply reduction interventions. However, she pointed out the growing challenge posed by synthetic opioids, citing the 2024 World Drug Report, which showed 292 million global drug users and 64 million with drug use disorders as of 2022.
She commended NACOC and its international partners for their efforts in seizing large volumes of illicit substances, destroying over 16 metric tons of seized narcotic drugs, and dismantling criminal syndicates in Ghana, West Africa, and Europe. The Vice President stressed the importance of addressing substance use disorders with compassion and praised the directive to operationalize the Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Fund under the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020.
Brigadier-General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, NACOC's Director-General, asserted that strengthening border controls and conducting intelligence-led operations have actively disrupted drug networks, reinforcing that Ghana is not a haven for drug trafficking. He advocated for prevention as a key strategy to break the cycle of addiction, crime, and despair associated with the illicit drug trade.
The Director-General urged the youth to resist the lure of drug traffickers and emphasized the need for bold action, wise investment, and collaborative efforts to secure a drug-free Ghana for future generations.
Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, the chief of Akwamu State, highlighted the public health, security, and developmental threats posed by drug abuse, likening it to illegal mining. He announced the allocation of 100 acres of land by Akwamu State for NACOC to establish a training school to bolster the fight against narcotics in Ghana and beyond. As the Chairperson for the occasion, he commended all stakeholders for their relentless efforts in combating drug use and illicit trafficking.
