Ghana has called for stronger regional and international cooperation to tackle the growing threat of drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. The appeal was made by a Ghanaian delegation led by Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director‑General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), at the 33rd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa (HONLAF) in Vienna, Austria, from 8 to 11 September 2026.
Chairing the meeting was Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Vienna, Her Excellency Matilda Alomatu Osei‑Agyeman. The delegation stressed that no country can effectively tackle the evolving drug problem on its own, especially as criminal networks continue to exploit national borders and adapt their trafficking methods.
Ghana reported that intelligence‑led operations conducted by NACOC and partner security agencies during the period under review resulted in 217 arrests and 165 prosecutions. The operations also led to the interception of more than 8.5 tonnes of assorted narcotic drugs and 45.4 million tramadol tablets.
The delegation warned that criminal networks are increasingly diversifying, trafficking pharmaceutical and synthetic substances such as tramadol and tapentadol alongside traditional narcotics including cocaine, heroin and cannabis. In response, Ghana is strengthening its use of digital intelligence, forensic investigations and financial investigations to identify trafficking networks and trace proceeds from the illicit drug trade.
Construction has begun on a dedicated forensic laboratory to improve the timely identification and analysis of suspected narcotic drugs and other exhibits. Ghana also highlighted measures to reduce drug demand and support people affected by substance use disorders. Prevention and public education programmes have reached approximately 495,000 people, while 30 treatment centres have supported 1,179 persons affected by substance use disorders. Additionally, 800 Senior High School Guidance and Counselling Coordinators have been trained to support prevention, early identification and referral.
Ghana underscored its growing counter‑narcotics cooperation with neighbouring countries and other regional partners. NACOC has signed a counter‑narcotics cooperation agreement with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), as well as Memoranda of Understanding with the Drug Enforcement Commission of Zambia and the Government of Burkina Faso. Beyond formal agreements, NACOC continues to cooperate with neighbouring countries, particularly Togo, through intelligence sharing and efforts to facilitate the arrest of persons under investigation.
The delegation reaffirmed its participation in international cooperation platforms, including AIRCOP, SEACOP, the UNODC Global Container Control Programme, the INCB‑GRIDS Programme and Project Cohesion. It called for countries to connect investigations, identify trafficking networks, trace criminal proceeds, locate wanted persons and dismantle organised crime groups operating across borders. Ghana therefore advocated stronger intelligence sharing, coordinated investigations and financial investigations to ensure that information gathered in one jurisdiction can support enforcement action in another.
Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to working with ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and other international partners to strengthen the collective response to the evolving drug threat. Stronger cooperation, the delegation said, is essential to prevent criminal networks from exploiting national borders and institutions to expand their operations.
