Ghana calls in Vienna for stronger cooperation against drug trafficking
Ghana’s delegation at the 33rd Meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies, Africa (HONLAF), in Vienna, Austria, called for stronger regional and international cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.
The delegation was led by Major General Maxwell Obuba Manti, Director-General of Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). The meeting, held from September 8 to 11, 2026, was chaired by Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative in Vienna, Matilda Alomatu Osei-Agyeman, MyJoyOnline reports.
Operational results
Ghanaian representatives said that no country can effectively counter drug trafficking on its own, as criminal networks exploit state borders and change their methods of transporting drugs.
According to the delegation, intelligence-led operations by NACOC and partner law enforcement agencies during the reporting period resulted in 217 arrests and 165 criminal prosecutions. More than 8.5 tonnes of various drugs and 45.4 million tramadol tablets were intercepted during these operations.
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The delegation also noted that criminal networks are expanding their activities, including the illicit trafficking and diversion of pharmaceutical and synthetic substances, including tramadol and tapentadol, alongside cocaine, heroin and cannabis.
Cooperation and prevention
Ghana is increasing its use of digital intelligence, forensic investigations and financial investigations to identify drug trafficking networks and trace proceeds from illicit trade. The delegation also reported the start of construction of a specialized forensic laboratory for faster identification and analysis of suspected drugs and other physical evidence.
Prevention and education programmes in Ghana reached about 495,000 people. Thirty treatment centres provided assistance to 1,179 people with substance use-related disorders. In addition, 800 senior high school counselling and student support coordinators received training in prevention, early detection and referral for assistance.
NACOC concluded a cooperation agreement with Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, as well as memoranda with Zambia’s Drug Enforcement Commission and the government of Burkina Faso. The Commission also cooperates with Togo in intelligence sharing and facilitating the arrests of individuals under investigation. The delegation called on countries to coordinate investigations across jurisdictions, identify criminal networks, trace their proceeds and search for wanted persons.
