The Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Mr. Julius Debrah, is set to lead a high-level national dialogue on drug trafficking and substance abuse on Friday, June 26, 2026, as the Ghanaian government intensifies its fight against emerging narcotics threats.
Organised by the Narcotics Control Commission (NCC), the dialogue will be held under the theme: “Emerging Trends, Emerging Threats: Confronting Trafficking, Abuse and Illicit Supply in a Changing World.” It will convene key stakeholders including security agencies, government institutions, civil society organisations, and international partners.
According to the NCC, Mr. Debrah’s participation underscores the government’s commitment to treating drug trafficking and substance abuse as a critical national security and public health issue.
The event will provide a strategic platform for stakeholders to analyse evolving drug trafficking patterns and develop coordinated, multi-sectoral responses to protect the country. Discussions will focus on three key areas:
- The growing use of technology and encrypted communication by drug traffickers
- The rising abuse of narcotic substances among the youth
- The expansion of illicit supply networks operating within and across borders
Participants will also examine the impact of new psychoactive substances and shifting dynamics in the global drug trade on Ghana’s security and public health systems.
Representatives from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Ministry of Health, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) are expected to contribute to the panel discussions.
Strengthening Collective Response
Sources indicate that Mr. Debrah is expected to outline government strategies aimed at strengthening prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes, while enhancing collaboration among state institutions in the fight against narcotics.
The NCC has recently ramped up public education campaigns and enforcement operations, resulting in the interception of several major consignments of illicit drugs at ports and border entry points.
Health professionals at the dialogue are expected to call for increased investment in rehabilitation facilities and mental health services to better support individuals battling substance dependence.
The national dialogue forms part of activities commemorating the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed globally on June 26 annually.
Stakeholders anticipate that the engagements will help shape a more robust and comprehensive national strategy to address the growing threat of drug trafficking and substance abuse in Ghana.
Source : myxyzonline/Emmanuel Nettey
