NACOC calls for nationwide drug fight as Commission warns abuse crisis is beyond its capacity

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has called for a collective national effort to tackle drug abuse, urging schools, churches and the public to play a more active role in preventing substance use, particularly among young people. Deputy Director-General of NACOC, Alexander Twum-Barimah, said the fight against drugs cannot be left to the Commission alone because of its limited manpower. Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, July 30, during a discussion on Ghana’s growing drug crisis, Mr Twum-Barimah said stronger collaboration from educational institutions, religious organisations and the public is needed to reduce drug abuse across the country.

“This fight cannot just be left for NACOC. We are just a handful compared to the population of the country,” he said. “If every other person agrees and comes to share the position that we are having, we can do this together.” He warned that drug abuse affects not only users but also innocent members of the public.

“You drive peacefully, and you’ll be in traffic. Someone who is on a high level of drugs… can also take you very close to God. As part of efforts to strengthen drug prevention in schools, Mr Twum-Barimah revealed that NACOC this year organised its first nationwide engagement with guidance and counselling coordinators from senior high schools across all 16 regions.

“This year, for the very first time across the 16 regions, we brought together all the counselling and guidance officers in the second-cycle institutions and had a conference with them,” he said. He explained that all 16 regional commands also held similar programmes in June to mark World Drug Day, adding that the initiative would become a regular feature. “It’s something that will not just end there.

We are going to have it very often to ensure that they can assist these younger ones who are with them at the second-cycle level,” he said. The NACOC Deputy Director-General encouraged members of the public to report suspected drug-related activities, saying information received from citizens has been valuable to the Commission’s work. “There have been numerous instances where referrals have been brought to me through our emails.

People send emails from different locations reporting drug situations within their communities,” he said. He assured whistleblowers that their identities would remain confi…