In a recent parliamentary session, a crucial discussion unfolded regarding the reclassification of Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as a security and intelligence agency. The Minister for Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, addressed a question posed by the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, concerning the steps his Ministry was taking to elevate NACOC’s status, given its vital role in drug enforcement.
According to Muntaka, NACOC’s functions are critical, positioning it as an essential frontline law enforcement agency. During a working visit to the Commission on February 27, 2025, the Minister emphasized the significance of NACOC’s mandate, which is clearly outlined in the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019).
However, the Minister highlighted a crucial oversight; NACOC’s exclusion from the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030). He stressed that this omission requires immediate correction, asserting that the Commission’s role in national security is “paramount,” and its reclassification is “not a matter of convenience but a necessity.”
As the sector minister, he officially recommended NACOC’s inclusion in the proposed amendment to the provisions of Act 1019 and the Intelligence Agencies Act currently under review, aligning with international best practices. Additionally, similar recommendations have been submitted to the Constitution Review Committee, urging the explicit recognition of NACOC as a state security agency within the Constitution itself.
This strategic move aims to significantly bolster NACOC’s mandate and enhance its effectiveness in combating drug trafficking and related criminal activities across the nation.
The discussion then shifted to the operational challenges faced by NACOC, particularly concerning the critical need for advanced scanning equipment at key entry points. Minister Muntaka emphasized that body and baggage scanners were “vital tools in the frontline operations of the Narcotics Control Commission, particularly at airports, where the concealment of narcotic substances has become increasingly sophisticated.”
He candidly addressed the persistent issue of malfunctioning scanners, stating, “Although the recurrences of the broken-down scanners at the key airports and cargo checkpoints significantly affect effective narcotics detection and undermines national and international security efforts, past attempts to repair the faulty scanners were unsuccessful due to severe airport challenges and and the unavailability of critical components in service and operationalized broken-down machinery.”
The Minister reported that a consultative analysis by the Ministry had concluded that procuring new scanners, rather than repairing obsolete equipment, would be the most efficient and sustainable solution, especially since new scanners are embedded with more robust technology that would make detection more efficient.
He further detailed the Ministry’s proactive measures, informing the House, “by organizing the agency on this matter, the Ministry has made a dedicated financial contribution under the Strategic Sector Returning Program to procure advanced body and baggage scanners to enhance the approachings of the agency at the airport.” He stressed the dual benefit of these acquisitions, noting that they were essential not only for improving the ability of the Narcotics Control Commission to detect and intercept illicit drugs, but also for aligning Ghana’s counter-narcotic efforts with international-based parties in airport security and trade facilitation.
In a move to accelerate the process, Muntaka revealed that the Ministry, in collaboration with NACOC, was actively engaging both local and international partners to mobilize additional local support to expedite the procurement and deployment of these scanners.
He concluded this point by asserting that this intervention underscored the agency with which the government and the Narcotics Control Commission are poised to achieve effective fight against drug trafficking at our airport, and therefore demand the immediate replacement of our native and non-functional scanners with modern detection technology.
Story By: Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
