NACSA joined fellow security agencies, political and religious leaders, members of the diplomatic corps, students, and other key stakeholders at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) for the commemoration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, organised by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).

The event, held under the theme “The World Drug Problem: Persistent Issues, New Challenges, Innovative Responses,” brought renewed attention to the evolving nature of drug-related crimes and the broader security risks they pose.

The Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Mantey, highlighted the strong link between illicit drugs and organised crime, noting how such networks continue to exploit gaps in enforcement systems.

Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Chief of Staff, Hon. Julius Debrah, urged students and the youth in particular to refrain from the use of illegal substances, stressing their devastating consequences on individual futures, families, and society as a whole.

The engagement underscores the intersection between drug trafficking, organised criminal networks, and the proliferation of illicit small arms, are mutually reinforcing and require coordinated, multi-agency responses to safeguard national security.

A secure and peaceful Ghana depends on disrupting the full ecosystem of organised crime, including the flow of illicit arms that often accompanies it.