The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has inaugurated a 16-member Narcotics Inter-Agency Coordination Committee to operate jointly in line with the policy direction of the Commission.
The Committee, made up of personnel drawn from sister state security and intelligence agencies, will serve as a joint operational body to complement NACOC’s activities.
The Committee will focus on intelligence sharing and collaboration to stay ahead of criminal networks. This forms part of a more structured and deliberate approach to inter-agency cooperation on narcotics-related issues.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Headquarters of the Commission on Wednesday, 16 January 2026, Brig Gen Mantey said the Narcotics Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (NICC) exists to connect intelligence rather than control institutions.
He added that the team will support prevention, interdiction and enforcement across all agencies, stressing that the NICC “will not override mandates but will strengthen collective action.”
He called for collaboration and diligence among members of the Committee to enable the Commission to achieve its strategic objectives.
On his part, the Deputy Director-General in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination, Lawyer Alexander Twum-Barimah, said the platform is intended to be practical and not about creating new mandates or additional layers of approval.
He emphasised that the purpose of the Committee is to ensure smoother information flow between agencies, early identification of concerns and the timely mobilisation of operational support without unnecessary delays.
“As liaison officers, you have been selected because you understand both your institutional responsibilities and the value of trusted engagement with partner agencies. The effectiveness of this team will depend on how well it supports real-time coordination and informed decision-making,” he added.
Mr Twum-Barimah noted that the inter-agency liaison initiative will also promote a shared understanding of the drug situation in the country by bringing together perspectives from across the security and regulatory landscape, stressing that such clarity is essential for leadership, planning and effective response.
The Liaison Coordination Committee, which brings together designated officers from key institutions, is expected to strengthen communication, improve early engagement and support joint responses where necessary.
The NICC comprises representatives from the Ghana Immigration Service; Ghana Revenue Authority–Customs Division; National Security Council Secretariat; Ghana Police Service/Drug Law Enforcement Unit (DLEU); National Intelligence Bureau; Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO); National Signals Bureau; and the Financial Intelligence Centre.
Source: myxyzonline.com
