Ghana's Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka has urged cannabis growers to form cooperatives and operate within the legal framework for cultivating approved varieties, with the Narcotics Control Commission providing oversight to ensure compliance with the 0.3 per cent THC limit on a dry-weight basis. The government is encouraging this regulated approach over illicit cultivation, with licensing required for industrial or medicinal purposes only.
17 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka said 84 people are in custody facing narcotics charges and nearly 73 suspected assets linked to individuals under investigation have been frozen. He credited the judiciary and Attorney-General's Department for reforms supporting drug prosecution and asset recovery.
17 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka revealed that an informant recently demanded US$20 million from the Narcotics Control Commission for information on a major drug consignment. Muntaka said the demand was unreasonable given NACOC's limited budget and appealed to the public to provide credible intelligence without excessive financial conditions.
19 hours ago · Joy Online →
Ghana's Interior Minister announced that the government is introducing mental health assessments and drug testing into medical screening for security service recruits, citing concerns about drug use among personnel and suicide cases within the services. The government is also requiring security agencies to establish dedicated welfare desks to support officers facing mental health and drug-related challenges.
19 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka says his ministry will not yield to political pressure when prosecuting drug suspects, and calls on the political class to support rather than intervene in the fight against illicit drugs. He stated that evidence will be tested in court regardless of political influence and that the government's priority is to dismantle drug operations and identify kingpins.
21 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has alleged that suspected cannabis traffickers are using ambulances and bullion vans to transport the substance, as security agencies act on intelligence about vehicles being used to conceal and move drugs. The government is responding through farm destruction, arrests, and intelligence-led operations.
21 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka says more than 90 per cent of people displaced by conflict in the Savannah Region returned to their homes within three months following security interventions and mediation. Over 40,000 people were displaced by the violence, with some fleeing to Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso.
21 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka told Joy FM that Ghana had no narcotics-detection gadgets when his ministry took office, forcing security operatives to rely on physical inspection. He said his ministry has since worked to address the gap as part of efforts to combat drug trafficking, which he identified as a major security concern alongside ethnic conflicts and land disputes.
21 hours ago · Joy Online →
Ghana's Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has identified ethnic conflicts, land disputes, and illicit drugs as major security concerns, noting that instability in the Sahel and Ghana's porous borders add to challenges facing security agencies. He cited UN findings on the West African coast being used as a transit route for drugs and said some Sahel countries struggle to control parts of their territory.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka disclosed that Ghana has 48 legitimate entry points but more than 300 unapproved crossing points, saying the illegal routes pose security challenges requiring stronger intelligence sharing and cooperation with neighbouring countries.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Muntaka says Ghana is safer than in 2025, citing reduced curfews (from 11 at start of 2025 to three now) and developments in Bawku, which has gone 150 days without gunfire. He acknowledged crime remains a challenge but says security agencies are taking steps to protect the public.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →
Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka reported that Bawku has gone 150 days without gunfire, crediting security operations and peacebuilding efforts. The curfew has been eased to 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and residents are now permitted to ride motorbikes between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. after nearly five years of restrictions.
22 hours ago · Joy Online →