Muntaka calls for stronger law enforcement cooperation to tackle transnational crimes

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has called for stronger cooperation and information sharing among law enforcement agencies to tackle the growing threat of transnational crimes and strengthen national and regional security.

He said the increasing cross-border nature of criminal activities required security institutions to work together and improve the exchange of information to support investigations and prevent criminals from exploiting weaknesses in the security system.

The minister made the call at a meeting of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) Ghana National Committee (WANACO) at the Police Headquarters in Accra, where stakeholders discussed the progress, challenges and sustainability of the programme.

He identified human trafficking, drug trafficking, cybercrime, financial crime and other organised criminal activities as some of the crimes requiring closer cooperation among law enforcement agencies, given their increasingly transnational nature.

The Minister observed that criminals continued to take advantage of communication gaps and weaknesses in information exchange among security institutions, making effective collaboration essential in tackling such activities.

He said law enforcement agencies must therefore strengthen their capacity to collect, manage, analyse and share criminal information in a timely, secure and lawful manner.

He further explained that the effectiveness of WAPIS depended not only on modern technology and infrastructure but also on accurate criminal data, adequate resources, strong inter-agency collaboration and the retention of trained personnel.

To ensure that the system achieved its intended objectives, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak urged WANACO to strengthen its oversight and coordination role by translating its deliberations into clear decisions, defined responsibilities and measurable outcomes.

He also emphasised that the sustainability of the programme required the collective commitment of all stakeholder institutions, rather than leaving its implementation solely to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) or the WAPIS Centre.

The Minister said every institution involved must take ownership of the programme and actively contribute to its effective implementation and long-term sustainability.

The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), and various security and law enforcement institutions.