{
  "id": 16519029,
  "title": "NACOC Director-General urges journalists to investigate drug trafficking networks in Ghana",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/nacoc-director-general-urges-journalists-to-investigate-drug-16519029",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-25T19:57:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/nacoc-director-general-urges-journalists-to-investigate-drug-trafficking-networks-in-ghana/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Ghana, has called on journalists to investigate drug trafficking networks and the vulnerabilities they exploit, rather than focusing solely on arrests and drug seizures. He argued that deeper media investigations could enhance public understanding of the narcotics trade and bolster efforts to protect vulnerable communities. Speaking at the Ashanti Media Excellence Awards in Kumasi on behalf of the Director-General, Rees Hakeem Oduro, the Ashanti Regional Director of NACOC, urged journalists to consider the broader context of narcotics issues, including institutional responses and protective measures for communities. He encouraged journalists to use their platforms to highlight concerns affecting young people and other vulnerable groups, and emphasized the importance of evidence-based reporting, cautioning against presenting allegations as established facts. Mantey affirmed NACOC's commitment to working collaboratively with the media to foster public education, accountability, and societal protection from the harms associated with illicit drugs.",
  "summary": "The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has challenged journalists to investigate the networks and vulnerabilities that enable drug trafficking rather than focusing mainly on arrests and drug seizures. He said deeper media investigations into how trafficking networks operate and the gaps they exploit could improve public understanding…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "NACOC Director-General urges journalists to investigate drug trafficking networks in Ghana",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/25/nacoc-director-general-urges-journalists-to-investigate-drug",
        "published": "2026-10-25T18:29:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}