NACOC reinstated at ports to intensify drug fight

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has been reinstated to participate in mandatory joint inspections at Ghana's ports, as part of intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking. This move, particularly at the Tema Port, aims to enhance the Commission's ability to detect and intercept narcotics entering or crossing the nation.

Majority Leader and MP for Builsa North, Mr James Agalga, announced the reinstatement at a recent press conference, attributing recent drug trafficking cases to the 2018 decision to exclude NACOC from inspections and inadequate resources. He emphasized that the exclusion weakened NACOC's capacity to monitor cargo at the country's busiest port.

The government has since taken steps to bolster NACOC's operations, including hiring additional narcotics personnel and providing necessary resources. These measures have led to an increase in arrests, with NACOC recording 217 arrests in 2024 compared to 73 in 2023, and seizing 1,497 kilograms of illicit substances. The government has also established a special court for quicker adjudication of drug cases and plans to modernize detection technology while enhancing intelligence sharing among security agencies.

Mr Agalga dismissed calls for a parliamentary probe into recent narcotics-related cases, stating that Parliament is not responsible for criminal investigations and can invite relevant agencies to testify in the House if dissatisfied with the outcomes.