Ghana is witnessing a rise in the domestic consumption and distribution of illicit drugs, a development the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) says requires urgent and coordinated action.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), NACOC Director-General Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey stated that Ghana is no longer only a transit point for narcotics but is increasingly facing a growing local drug abuse crisis.
The agreement between the two countries covers intelligence sharing, joint operations, training, and cooperation against drug trafficking, synthetic drugs, precursor chemicals, and money laundering.
NACOC disclosed that Ghana recorded a 197 percent increase in drug-related arrests in 2025, with nearly 1,500 kilogrammes of narcotics seized and operations expanded to 40 new district commands nationwide.
Nigerian NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa said the partnership sends a strong warning to criminal networks, stressing that both countries are united in tackling the growing threat of illicit drugs across the subregion.
