The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major-General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, and his delegation on Thursday, 1 October 2026, paid a working visit to key operational areas of the Tema Harbour as part of measures to strengthen collaboration among agencies and address operational gaps in the fight against narcotic drug trafficking.
The delegation visited the MPS Export and Import Scan, MPS Main Office and the ACS Export Terminal.
At the MPS Export and Import Scan, the officer in charge briefed the Director-General and his delegation on the scanning processes and procedures. He explained that MPS scans containers and forwards the resulting images to the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division for interpretation.
Following the briefing, the delegation engaged the officers in discussions on the existing processes and challenges.
The Director-General, in his remarks, referred to recent seizures of narcotic drugs linked to Ghana and stressed the need for stronger collaboration among all agencies operating at the port.
He stated that, as part of measures to streamline port security operations, no container should leave the port without the required clearance and authorisation of NACOC and other relevant security agencies.
Major-General Mantey emphasised that there should be no turf wars among agencies, but rather closer collaboration and information-sharing to prevent the Tema Port from being exploited as a transit point for narcotic drugs.
He noted that recent developments had affected Ghana’s international image and stated that NACOC would not shield anyone found culpable of wrongdoing. “The agenda is to develop our country and protect the good image of Ghana,” he said.
The Director-General subsequently held a brief meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of MPS, Mr Mohammed Samara.
Mr Samara expressed concern over recent narcotic drug seizures abroad and acknowledged the potential impact on Ghana’s international reputation.
He assured the delegation of MPS’s commitment to collaborating with relevant state institutions to strengthen security operations at the port. He further indicated that MPS would create the necessary opportunities for NACOC and other security agencies to undertake relevant training and effectively operate within the scan rooms.
Major-General Mantey acknowledged the role of MPS as a private-sector partner in port operations but stressed that commercial considerations should not override national security and Ghana’s international reputation.
He assured Mr Samara that NACOC would work with MPS to facilitate the provision of appropriate software and relevant training for NACOC officers and other security agencies to enhance their capacity to detect and prevent illicit drug trafficking through the port.
The Director-General expressed appreciation to MPS for its continued support to NACOC and other security agencies operating at the port.
The final stop was at the ACS Export Terminal, where the Director-General interacted with officers and encouraged them to remain vigilant, diligent and professional in the discharge of their duties.
The working visit forms part of NACOC’s broader efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and ensure that the Tema Harbour is not exploited as a transit point for the trafficking of narcotic drugs.
