NACOC is highly under-resourced; the drug problem is beyond cocaine – Senyo Hosi

Convener of the OneGhana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has described the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) as highly under-resourced, warning that Ghana’s drug problem extends beyond cocaine trafficking to the growing use of synthetic substances.

He says the country risks overlooking a major part of the drug menace if its response focuses largely on cocaine, particularly as synthetic drugs pose a serious threat to young people.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, November 14, Mr Hosi said NACOC lacked the personnel, equipment, and logistical support needed to tackle the problem effectively.

“It is a highly under-resourced institution,” he said, referring to NACOC.

He recalled seeing NACOC officers stationed at some border points without proper offices, with some forced to work under trees. Drawing on his experience travelling in the oil business and his interactions with a former head of the Commission, he said the situation reflected the difficult conditions under which officers had been operating.

Mr Hosi acknowledged that NACOC had expanded its presence from about eight districts before the current government took office to 81 districts. However, he argued that the expansion must be matched with adequate resources to strengthen the Commission’s operations.

Beyond the resource challenges, Mr Hosi urged the government to broaden its approach to tackling drug trafficking and substance abuse, stressing that cocaine was not the only concern.

“The drug problem should not be made a cocaine problem at all. The bigger problem we have is with the synthetics. Serious problem. But that's what our youth are getting into,” he said.

He warned that although Ghana serves as a transit point for cocaine consignments, the country must also be concerned about the growing domestic consequences of drug use.

Mr Hosi said the threat should not be treated as a distant security concern, urging families, particularly those in the middle class, to recognise that young people across society could be exposed.

He also expressed disappointment that the 2027 Budget did not give sufficient attention to the drug menace and the resources required by NACOC, arguing that the issue deserved greater national priority.

Mr Hosi said strengthening the Commission would require more than expanding its presence across the country, insisting that officers must be equipped with the tools and logistical support needed to detect and disrupt drug trafficking.