Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak has announced a renewed national focus on drug prevention, describing it as both a public health concern and a national security threat.
As part of efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and abuse, the Minister has directed the immediate operationalisation of the Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Fund, established under Section 22 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019). The fund is intended to support addiction research and the establishment of rehabilitation centres across the country.
“We must strengthen our preventive programmes, enhance rehabilitation efforts, and deepen international cooperation to tackle this menace at its roots,” the Minister said. “To this end, I have directed NACOC, as a matter of urgency, to operationalise the Substance Use Disorder Rehabilitation Fund.”
He made the announcement at the passing-out ceremony of 186 cadet officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Tema.
The fund, he noted, will also support research into addiction and treatment for individuals with substance use disorders, recognising drug abuse as a growing public health concern.
Mr Mubarak pledged to contribute seed capital to the fund and called on individuals and corporate institutions to support the initiative as part of their corporate social responsibility to help address the national drug problem.
He further called for increased intelligence sharing among NACOC and other security agencies, citing the increasingly sophisticated nature of global drug trafficking networks.
“The drug trade is a complex and evolving threat, and it is only through unity that we can stay ahead of those who engage in this illicit business,” he stated. “Government is fully aware of the challenges you face, and we are taking concrete steps to address them.”
According to the Minister, the government is investing in logistics, expanding training programmes, and improving the welfare of security personnel. He also referenced ongoing efforts to strengthen the legal framework to ensure drug traffickers face the full rigour of the law.
The 186 newly commissioned officers, who formed Cadet Course 8, completed six and a half months of intensive training at the Ghana Navy Leadership Training School in Tema.
Their curriculum included drug pharmacology, passenger profiling, document fraud detection, and intelligence operations—essential tools in Ghana’s effort to dismantle transnational drug networks.
Emphasising that drug enforcement is both a professional duty and a moral obligation, the Minister commended the cadets for their discipline and commitment.
The ceremony featured parade drills, tactical displays, and performances by the Ghana Navy Regimental Band. Awards were presented to top-performing cadets.
Dignitaries in attendance included the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing; NACOC Director General, Brigadier General Maxwell Mantey; the Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Doreen Annan; senior NACOC officials, other high-ranking security personnel, and family members.
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