Tuesday, 15 September 2026

Ghana’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026

Tuesday, 15 September 2026

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Ghanaian press · Person

Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey

Also known as: Major Gen. Mantey

Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission leading Ghana's drug enforcement efforts and regional cooperation initiatives.

2026-07-092026-09-15

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

July 2026
16 JulJoy Online
… Chinoza, has paid a courtesy call on the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, to formally announce Zimbabwe’s proposed benchmarking mission aimed at learning from Ghana’s drug control strategies. …
Zimbabwe to draw lessons from Ghana’s strategies in combating drug abuse
15 JulJoy Online
… Receiving the cheque, Director-General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, commended GoldBod for honouring its commitment and reaffirmed the Commission’s determination to continue working closely with the Board to combat illegal gold trading and safeguard the country’s …
GoldBod rewards NACOC with GH¢12.65m over 2025 gold seizure
11 JulJoy Online
… The exercise was led by the Director-General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, together with the Commission’s two Deputy Directors-General—Lawyer Alexander Twum-Barimah, in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination, and Stephen Yeboah, Deputy Director-General for …
NACOC management, staff join nationwide clean-up exercise
9 JulJoy Online
… Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, the Director-General, NACOC, called for stronger collaboration among government, civil society, development partners and healthcare professionals to fully implement Ghana’s drug policy reforms and address emerging drug threats. …
Interior Ministry pushes for full implementation of Ghana’s drug law

World & Region

Ghana urges regional cooperation against drug trafficking threat

The News

Ghana's delegation at the 33rd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa in Vienna called for stronger regional and international cooperation to combat drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. During the period under review, NACOC and partner security agencies made 217 arrests and 165 prosecutions, intercepting more than 8.5 tonnes of assorted narcotic drugs and 45.4 million tramadol tablets.

12 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 12 September

Ghana urges regional cooperation against drug trafficking threat
Ghana's delegation at the 33rd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa in Vienna called for stronger regional and international cooperation to combat drug trafficking and transnational organised crime. During the period under review, NACOC and partner security agencies made 217 arrests and 165 prosecutions, intercepting more than 8.5 tonnes of assorted narcotic drugs and 45.4 million tramadol tablets.
12 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 3 September

NACOC and CSIR partner on low-THC cannabis research development
The Narcotics Control Commission has partnered with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to advance research, innovation and sustainable cultivation of cannabis with not more than 0.3 per cent THC content, aiming to support development of industrial and medicinal applications of hemp while maintaining strict regulatory oversight.
3 September 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 27 August

NACOC and University of Ghana partner on campus drug prevention
The Narcotics Control Commission has engaged the University of Ghana to strengthen efforts against substance abuse among students, focusing on curbing the use, distribution and sale of illicit drugs on campus. The discussions highlighted concern about cannabis-laced edible products being sold to students and the need for closer cooperation on prevention, education and support services.
27 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 25 August

NACOC chief tells prosecutors to uphold integrity in drug cases
The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission urged officers being trained as prosecutors to maintain integrity, professionalism and fairness in handling narcotics cases, warning that poor investigations and inadequate case preparation could undermine justice and weaken public confidence in the justice system.
25 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 20 August

Minister opens inaugural National Youth Forum in Accra
Minister George Opare Addo opened the National Youth Forum 2026 at UPSA in Accra, bringing together young people and heads of youth-focused agencies to discuss challenges and opportunities. The forum provided a platform for youth to raise concerns and propose solutions, with agency heads outlining available programmes.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →
NACOC strengthening border security through regional cooperation
The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission says the agency is collaborating with state security bodies to secure Ghana's points of entry and exit to prevent drug trafficking and organised crime. He stressed the need for regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, and investment in modern equipment and technology to tackle cross-border criminal operations.
20 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 18 August

NACOC strengthening border security through regional cooperation
Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission, says NACOC is collaborating with security agencies to safeguard entry and exit points and prevent drug trafficking and organised crime. He emphasised the need for regional cooperation, intelligence sharing, modern equipment, and investment in forensic capabilities and technology.
18 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 17 August

Aboboyaa Group donates motorcycles to NACOC Ashanti
The CEO of Aboboyaa Group of Companies has donated two motorcycles to the Narcotics Control Commission's Ashanti Regional Command to enhance operational mobility in combating substance abuse and drug trafficking in the region.
17 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 14 August

MDSL donates IT equipment to support NACOC anti-drug operations
Mood Digital Services Limited (MDSL) has donated IT equipment including 50 laptops, five iPads, servers, printers, projectors, and a drone to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as part of its corporate social responsibility. MDSL's CEO said the company also plans to help NACOC develop a national incident reporting system with real-time reporting and data analysis capabilities.
14 August 2026 · The Chronicle →

Thursday 13 August

NACOC warns youth cannabis misconceptions endanger brain function
The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission cautioned young people against misconceptions about cannabis, stating that its plant-based origin does not make it harmless and that it can impair memory, judgment, and decision-making. He challenged the belief that cannabis is safe because it comes from a plant or that it can improve intellectual abilities, urging youth to rely on credible scientific information.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
HIV prevalence among drug users in Ashanti Region at 6.6%
The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission reported that HIV prevalence among people who use drugs in the Ashanti Region stands at 6.6%, compared with the national prevalence rate of 1.4%. According to 2025 research by the University of Ghana School of Public Health, 82,500 people use drugs in Ghana, with 16,300 in the Ashanti Region.
13 August 2026 · Joy Online →
Tech company donates IT equipment to Ghana's NACOC
Mood Digital Services Limited has donated IT equipment to the Narcotics Control Commission, including 50 laptops, five iPads, two industrial printers, two enterprise-grade servers, 12 UPS units, five projectors, one drone and four all-in-one computers. The company also offered to develop a national incident reporting system to enable remote reporting from NACOC's regional offices.
13 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Wednesday 12 August

Tech company donates IT equipment to NACOC for cybercrime operations
Mood Digital Services Ltd has donated 50 HP laptops and other IT equipment to the Narcotics Control Commission to strengthen its capacity to detect and disrupt drug trafficking conducted through digital and cyber platforms. The Director-General said the equipment would enhance NACOC's operational capacity and intelligence-gathering capabilities to combat emerging forms of narcotics-related cybercrime.
12 August 2026 · Joy Online →

Monday 3 August

Ghana's first two cannabis cultivation licenses awarded to companies
Two Ghanaian companies, MJ Adom Limited and Juliotpa Limited, have become the first to receive licences to cultivate cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes under a government regulated pilot programme. The three-year licences permit cultivation of cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of not more than 0.3 per cent, following a rigorous technical and regulatory assessment.
3 August 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →

Friday 31 July

NACOC grants Ghana's first cannabis cultivation licences
The Narcotics Control Commission has issued Ghana's first cannabis cultivation licences to MG Adom Limited and Juliopta Limited for industrial, medicinal and research purposes. The licences permit cultivation of cannabis containing no more than 0.3 per cent THC, while recreational cannabis remains illegal in Ghana.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 28 July

Ghana Navy and NACOC deepen drug-trafficking combat collaboration
The Ghana Navy and Narcotics Control Commission renewed their commitment to inter-agency collaboration during a courtesy visit, with NACOC's Director-General commending the Navy's support in combating illicit drug trafficking in Ghana's maritime space through capacity-building initiatives including VBSS training and Exercise OBANGAME EXPRESS.
28 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Friday 24 July

NACOC partners UPSA on nationwide drug use survey
The Narcotics Control Commission has partnered with the University of Professional Studies, Accra to conduct a nationwide baseline survey on drug use to generate data for policy formulation and evidence-based interventions.
24 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 23 July

NACOC partners UPSA on nationwide drug use baseline survey
The Narcotics Control Commission has partnered with the University of Professional Studies, Accra to conduct a nationwide baseline survey on drug use patterns and trends to generate data for policy formulation and evidence-based interventions in Ghana.
23 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 22 July

NACOC warns drug traffickers using cyberspace to expand operations
The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission has warned that global drug trafficking networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, exploiting technology and cyberspace to expand illicit operations across borders, with Ghana experiencing a trend where criminal networks are using cyberspace to trade in narcotics.
22 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Tuesday 21 July

Drug trafficking networks exploit technology across borders
The Director-General of Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission warns that global drug trafficking networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, using technology and cyberspace to expand illicit operations. He called for stronger regional and international cooperation, noting that Ghana is experiencing criminal networks using cyberspace to trade in narcotics.
21 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 16 July

Zimbabwe plans to study Ghana's drug control strategies
Zimbabwe's ambassador to Ghana announced a benchmarking mission to learn from Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission drug control strategies, as Zimbabwe prepares to establish its own Drug and Substance Abuse Control and Enforcement Agency.
16 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Wednesday 15 July

GoldBod rewards NACOC GH¢12.65m for 2025 gold seizure
The Ghana Gold Board presented GH¢12.65 million to the Narcotics Control Commission, representing 50 per cent of proceeds from the sale of 17 gold bars seized from illicit gold traders in 2025, distributed under the Board's incentive policy to encourage intelligence and strengthen collaboration against illegal gold trading.
15 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Saturday 11 July

NACOC staff participate in nationwide sanitation clean-up exercise
The Narcotics Control Commission's management and staff, led by Director-General Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, joined the National General Clean-Up Exercise on Friday, July 10, clearing gutters, desilting drains and sweeping streets around their headquarters and annexes. NACOC regional commands and border posts simultaneously undertook similar clean-up activities in their respective jurisdictions.
11 July 2026 · Joy Online →

Thursday 9 July

Deputy Interior Minister urges drug law implementation
Ghana's Deputy Minister for the Interior has called for the urgent passage of a Legislative Instrument to operationalise the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020, saying the country must move beyond policy commitments to treat drug use as a public health and human rights issue rather than a criminal matter.
9 July 2026 · Joy Online →