The government has restrained about GH¢6.9 million and US$440,000 in cash, along with 73 assets linked to suspected illicit drug trafficking and money laundering, as part of an intensified crackdown on the drug trade.

Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak disclosed this at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 24, saying the campaign was increasingly focused on the financial networks behind drug trafficking rather than only users and distributors.

“Our campaign is not just [targeted] at the users, but those who are bringing it,” the Minister said.

He said security agencies were freezing assets suspected to be linked to drug trafficking while criminal prosecutions were ongoing.

“When we get them, we seize their assets, or we taint their assets, freezing them while the prosecution is going on,” he stated.

According to Mr Muntaka, 73 assets connected to suspected drug-related activities had been traced during the period under review, while about 19 kilogrammes of gold had also been seized in suspected drug-money laundering cases.

“Cash that has been associated with these persons involved in these drugs, about 6.9 million and then about 440,000 US dollars, has been restrained,” he said.

8,500kg of narcotics, 45.4m tramadol tablets seized

The Minister said the financial seizures formed part of a broader intelligence-led operation conducted by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies.

Between January 2025 and July 2026, the agencies seized more than 8,500 kilogrammes of narcotic drugs and about 45.4 million tramadol tablets.

A total of 217 arrests were made, while 165 prosecutions were initiated.

Mr Muntaka commended the Director-General of NACOC and his team for what he described as a bold approach to tackling illicit drugs.

“One of the major challenges that confronts us continues to be the illicit drug fight,” he said.

He expressed particular concern about the volume of synthetic drugs being intercepted.

“One of the biggest challenges now is the use of these synthetic drugs, and Narcotics Control has intensified its effort,” he said.

“Imagine, in less than two years, over 45 million tablets of tramadol were seized or intercepted.”

Over 2,000 education programmes

Mr Muntaka said enforcement was being complemented by education and prevention programmes aimed at reducing drug use, particularly among young people.

He said NACOC had conducted more than 2,000 educational programmes across the country, covering 1,153 first-cycle schools, 185 second-cycle schools and 41 tertiary institutions.

The programmes also reached 187 faith-based institutions, 147 communities and 235 workplaces.

“We have intensified education to try to let people understand the effect and how this thing can be devastating,” Mr Muntaka said.

Rehabilitation remains a challenge

Despite the progress in enforcement and prevention, the Minister identified rehabilitation as a major gap in Ghana’s response to drug abuse.

He noted that Ghana does not have a dedicated national rehabilitation centre capable of adequately supporting people struggling with drug dependence.

Mr Muntaka said the government’s approach therefore combines enforcement, financial disruption and public education, while highlighting the need to strengthen rehabilitation as part of the broader response to illicit drug abuse.