NACOC boss urges prosecutors to uphold integrity and rule of law

Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), has called upon newly trained prosecutors to maintain integrity, professionalism, and fairness in their handling of narcotics-related cases. During a four-day public prosecution training workshop, he emphasized that prosecutors must employ sound judgment and objectivity, stressing that their task extends beyond securing convictions to ensuring justice is served and the due process is adhered to.

Speaking on Monday, August 24, 2026, he cautioned against compromising integrity and urged the officers to only present credible and lawfully obtained evidence in court, warning that subpar investigations, inadequate case preparation, or improper prosecution could compromise justice and erode public confidence in the NACOC and the justice system.

"Being a prosecutor is not just about securing convictions," Major General Mantey stated. "It's about respecting the rule of law and ensuring due process." He also expressed gratitude to the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General for permitting NACOC to prosecute its own cases under Section 59 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), highlighting this as a crucial step towards bolstering the Commission's capacity to prosecute narcotics-related offences arising from its operations.

The workshop, the first of its kind for NACOC, aims to equip officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to become competent, ethical, and effective prosecutors. Its Director of Public Prosecutions, Mrs. Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, emphasized that successful prosecution begins well before a case reaches the courtroom, with the quality of arrests, evidence collection and preservation, statement-taking, and investigative procedures having a significant impact on the case outcome.

She urged the participants to uphold the law and ensure every case they handle adheres to legal and evidential standards. Deputy Director-General of NACOC, Lawyer Alexander Twum-Barimah, noted that drug trafficking remains a global issue demanding a coordinated and proficient response. He stressed that prosecutors play a vital role in ensuring narcotics-related cases are properly investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.

He encouraged the participants to actively engage in the training and apply the acquired knowledge in their duties. The workshop is part of NACOC's ongoing efforts to enhance its institutional capacity, improve the quality of investigations and prosecutions, and ensure narcotics-related offences are managed with professionalism, integrity, and respect for the rule of law.