More than 6,000 applicants seeking recruitment into Ghana’s security services tested positive for illicit drugs during mandatory screening introduced for the first time this year, according to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).
The Director-General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, disclosed that the affected applicants—representing about seven per cent of all candidates screened for recruitment into the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service—tested positive for substances including cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates and tramadol.
Brig. Gen. Mantey described the findings as a wake-up call, stressing the need for stronger preventive measures to protect young people from substance abuse.
“If we cannot secure the people who guard our streets, how do we secure the country? This is not a cause for despair. It is a call for urgent, systematic action,” he said.
He made the remarks at the national commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking held in Accra on Friday, June 26, under the theme, “The World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses.”
The NACOC Director-General noted that the 2025 World Drug Report estimated that approximately 316 million people worldwide used illicit drugs, while the global drug trade generated hundreds of billions of dollars annually for organised criminal networks.
He said criminal syndicates continue to adopt sophisticated methods of manufacturing and trafficking drugs, including the use of encrypted digital platforms, new trafficking routes and advanced concealment techniques. He cited the recent interception of methamphetamine concealed in bags of charcoal in Ghana as an example.
According to Brig. Gen. Mantey, Ghana is increasingly facing the challenge of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances, which are more potent, more addictive and more difficult to detect than traditional narcotics.
He revealed that between 2025 and April 2026, NACOC recorded 2,217 arrests and secured 165 prosecutions, while seizing more than 8.5 tonnes of narcotic drugs.
He also disclosed that the Commission confiscated 45.4 million tramadol tablets over the same period, describing the quantity as enough opioid doses to medicate every Ghanaian more than once.
Brig. Gen. Mantey warned that Ghana has evolved from being primarily a transit point for illicit drugs to becoming a destination for their distribution and consumption, underscoring the need for stronger and more innovative responses.
To strengthen enforcement, he said the government has expanded NACOC’s district operational commands from fewer than 10 to 77 across all 16 regions.
He further announced that, in collaboration with the Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the replacement of body scanners at Accra International Airport is underway, with the new equipment expected to become operational by August 2026.
In addition, the government is establishing a modern forensic laboratory for NACOC, which is expected to be operational by the end of September. The facility will enhance the analysis of controlled substances, strengthen investigations and improve prosecution outcomes.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah said the fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking requires a balanced strategy that combines prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, recovery and effective law enforcement.
“We must be uncompromising in our response to criminal organisations that traffic illicit drugs, recruit vulnerable young people, and profit from human suffering. But we must also recognise that many of those struggling with addiction are themselves victims,” he said.
Mr. Debrah assured that the government would not allow criminal networks to undermine communities, endanger young people or threaten national security, adding that education, employment opportunities and community support remain critical to preventing drug abuse among the youth.
The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, also warned that the illicit drug trade continues to destroy families, exploit vulnerable people and weaken communities.
He commended NACOC and its partner agencies for their efforts in combating drug-related crimes and urged parents, teachers, faith-based organisations and traditional leaders to complement government initiatives through education and mentorship.
Addressing students at the event, the Minister encouraged them to reject drug use and remain committed to their aspirations.
“Do not allow drugs to diminish your ambition, cloud your judgment or divert you from your purpose. Let your choices reflect the human promise and potential within you,” he urged.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, called on parents, particularly mothers, to play a more active role in guiding and monitoring their children to prevent drug abuse.
He urged parents to instil strong moral values, pay attention to the company their children keep and help them make responsible decisions.
“The subject should not be limited to a hall like this. It must go beyond this hall and reach the communities where this phenomenon is most prevalent,” he said.
The Chief Imam also called for intensified public education on the dangers of drug abuse and prayed for wisdom and protection for NACOC officers and all stakeholders involved in the fight against illicit drugs.
