News:
July 7, 2026
Interior Minister confirms NACOC officers can now carry arms, conduct intelligence operations and prosecute cases independently
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has been granted full recognition as a security agency, empowering its officers to carry firearms, conduct intelligence operations, make arrests and independently prosecute narcotics-related offences, Interior Minister Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has announced.
The Minister revealed the development while appearing before Parliament’s Assurance Committee, where he is providing updates on government reforms within the security sector.
Long-overdue recognition
Addressing the committee, Muntaka Mubarak explained that although NACOC had long been performing critical enforcement duties, it was not originally established as a standalone security agency under the 1992 Constitution. Narcotics enforcement was previously handled as part of the Ghana Police Service.
“Narcotics issues were dealt with as part of the police. As a country was growing, we had a 1992 Constitution that did not anticipate that gradually Narcotics Control would be standing on its own,” the Minister told the committee.
Enhanced prosecution powers
Over the past 18 months, the Ministry has worked closely with the Attorney General’s Office to empower NACOC officers to prosecute narcotics cases independently—a move the Minister described as “long overdue.”
“Today if you have narcotic issues, they no longer carry it to the Attorney General’s Office to prosecute on their behalf,” he stated.
Full integration into security framework
The Commission is now fully integrated into the country’s security architecture under the Security and Intelligence Act, giving it a formal role in intelligence gathering and national security operations.
According to the Minister, NACOC now participates in security decision-making at every level of the country’s security structure:
· District Security Councils – NACOC representatives now sit at district level
· Regional Security Councils – Participation at regional level
· Joint Intelligence Committee – Full membership in national intelligence coordination
“So at the District Security Council they will sit, at the Regional Security Council they sit, at all levels they sit. They are part of the Joint Intelligence Committee too. So they are fully already working as a security agency,” the Minister emphasised.
Notably, the Director General of NACOC now holds the rank of a two-star General, reflecting the Commission’s elevated status.
Strengthened mandate
The recognition strengthens the Commission’s mandate to combat illicit drug trafficking and related organised crimes while enhancing collaboration with other security institutions across the country.
The development marks a significant shift in Ghana’s approach to narcotics enforcement, positioning NACOC as a key player in the nation’s broader security architecture.
Ghanamps.com