The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has inaugurated a 16-member Narcotics Inter-Agency Coordination Committee to operate jointly in line with the policy direction of the Commission.

The committee is made up of personnel drawn from sister state security and intelligence agencies and will serve as a joint operational body to complement the work of NACOC.

Its focus will be on intelligence sharing and collaboration to stay ahead of organised criminal networks involved in narcotics trafficking. The initiative forms part of a more structured and deliberate approach to inter-agency cooperation on drug-related issues.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the headquarters of the Commission, Brigadier General Mantey explained that the Narcotics Inter-Agency Coordination Committee (NICC) is meant to connect intelligence, not to control institutions.

He noted that the committee will support prevention, interdiction and enforcement efforts across all participating agencies, stressing that the “Narcotics Inter-Agency Coordination Committee will not override mandates but strengthen collective action”.

He urged members of the committee to work with diligence and a spirit of collaboration to help the Commission achieve its objectives.

On his part, the Deputy Director-General in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination, Alexander Twum-Barimah, said the committee was designed to be practical and results-oriented.

“This platform is intended to be practical. It is not about creating new mandates or layers of approval,” he stated.

He explained that the coordination committee is also meant to ensure smoother flow of information between agencies, early identification of concerns, and faster mobilisation of operational support without unnecessary delays.

“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 further noted that the inter-agency liaison initiative will help build a shared understanding of the country’s drug situation by bringing together perspectives from across the security and regulatory landscape.

He said such clarity is essential for leadership, planning and effective response.

The Liaison Coordination Committee brings together designated officers from key institutions to strengthen communication, improve early engagement and support joint responses where necessary.

Agencies represented on the Narcotics Inter-Agency Coordination Committee include the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs Division), the National Security Council Secretariat, the Ghana Police Service (DLEU), the National Intelligence Bureau, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the National Signals Bureau, and the Financial Intelligence Centre.