The Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has said that drug abuse should not be treated as a personal issue but rather a national emergency.

Speaking during the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, he warned that drug addiction is fast becoming a national emergency, with deep-rooted social consequences.

“Law enforcement alone is not enough of a deterrent. Drug abuse is not just a personal issue; it’s a national emergency. Prevention is not charity, it is a smart strategy to break the cycle of addiction,” he stated.

While reaffirming the agency’s commitment to tactical operations such as border control, intelligence-driven interdictions, and swift prosecutions, Mantey emphasised that prevention must be at the centre of Ghana’s anti-drug efforts.

In a citinewsroom.com report on June 27, 2025, he said NACOC is intensifying awareness campaigns and collaborating with both national and international partners to tackle the root causes of addiction, especially among the youth.

Meanwhile, the Head of the United Nations Information Centre in Accra, Cynthia Prah supported the call for broader community-based solutions.

She said drug syndicates continue to target the most vulnerable in society, fueling addiction while making massive profits.

“Criminal networks are making hundreds of billions annually while devastating communities. We must reduce demand through education, treatment, and alternatives to drug cultivation and production,” she indicated.

The ceremony focused on addressing how drug abuse is not only a law enforcement issue but a public health crisis that demands urgent, holistic responses.

MRA/AE

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