The Chairman of the select committee on Defence and Interior of Parliament, Hon James Agalga, has assured management and staff of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) that his committee will put in place measures that would seek to facilitate the inclusion of NACOC into the Act 1030, becoming a security and intelligence agency.

The move, Hon Agalga added, would enable the Commission to become robust and run its operations in parallel with the existing security and intelligence agencies, aimed at controlling and securing the nation from becoming a haven for drug barons.

The Chairman of the committee, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Builsa North Constituency in the Upper East Region, gave the assurance when, together with his committee members, visited management of the Commission on Monday, June 30, 2025, mainly to interact and gather direct information relating to the state and challenges being faced.

In his remarks, the Committee will ensure that the challenges the Commission is bedeviled with are resolved by engaging the Interior Minister to ameliorate the concerns raised, as well as commend Management led by the Director-General, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey and his Deputies for their remarkable successes chalked within the past 90 days since they assumed office.

The Ranking Member of the Select Committee, Hon. Rev John Ntim Fordjour, on his part reiterated the committee’s support to ensure that NACOC is given the needed attention and support to enable carry out its mandate.

He added that the Committee will also push for the reclassification of the Headquarters of NACOC as a security zone, mainly to detach the Headquarters from possible threats from private encroachers whose activities pose threats to the lives and safety of staff who operate there.

Rev Ntim Fordjour, who is also the Member of Parliament for Assin South Constituency in the Central Region, hinted that the Committee will further engage the Minister for Justice and Attorney General, the Acting Chief Justice and Interior Minister, to put in place measures that would seek to create a specialised court to deal with all narcotics related issues.

Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, in his welcome address, thanked the select committee members for the visit and assurances to of pushing for the pressing needs and concerns of the Commission.

He emphasised that Management is committed to fighting the illicit drug trafficking and abuse menace to the barest minimum.