The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission, Brig Gen Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has inaugurated a sixteen member inter-agency Narcotics Coordination Committee to operate jointly in line with policy direction of the Commission.
The committee, which is made up of personnel drawn from sister state security and intelligence agencies, will serve as a joint operation body to complement the operations of NACOC.
The committee will be focusing on intelligence sharing and also collaborating to stay ahead of criminal networks.
This forms part of a more structured and deliberate approach to inter-agency collaboration on narcotics issues.
Speaking at the Inaugural ceremony held at the Headquarters of the Commission on Wednesday 16 January 2026, the Director-General, Brig Gen Maxwell Obuba Mantey, said the Narcotics Inter-agency Coordination Committee (NICC) exists to connect intelligence and not to control institutions.
He added that the team will further support prevention, interdiction, and enforcement across all agencies and that “Narcotics Inter-agency Coordination Committee will not override mandates but strengthen collective actions”.
He called for collaboration and diligence among members of the Committee to enable the Commission to achieve its targeted goals.
On his part, the Deputy Director-General in-charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination Lawyer Alexander Twum-Barimah stated that “This platform is intended to be practical. It is not about creating new mandates or layers of approval”
He stressed that the purpose of the coordination committee is also to ensure that information moves more easily between agencies, that concerns are raised earlier, and that operational support can be mobilised without unnecessary delay.
“As liaison officers, you have been selected because you understand both your institutional responsibilities and the value of trusted engagement with partner agencies. The effectiveness of this team will depend on how well it supports real-time coordination and informed decision-making”- He added.
Mr Twum-Barimah noted that the Inter-agency liaison initiative will also support a shared understanding of the drug situation in the country by bringing together perspectives from across the security and regulatory landscape as such clarity is essential for leadership, planning, and effective response.
The Liaison Coordination Committee, which brings together designated officers from key institutions, will strengthen communication, improve early engagement, and support joint responses where necessary.
The Narcotics Inter-agency Coordination Committee (NICC) includes the Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Revenue Authority/Customs Division, National Security Council Secretariat, Ghana Police Service/ DLEU, National Intelligence Bureau, Economics and Organize Crime Office, National Signals Bureau and Financial and Intelligence Centre.
