Story By: Samali Abdul Razak – Oti Region
A LEADING member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Oti Region has accused the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government of failing to tackle the menace of drug trafficking in Ghana.
Mr. Samuel Kofi Kilifingh, an aspirant for the position of Deputy Regional Communication Officer in the Oti Region, says the fight against drug trafficking was not given the needed priority under the leadership of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
In an interview with Nationaltymes.com, Mr. Kofi Kilifingh pointed to official statistics from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to back his claim, noting a sharp contrast between the two administrations.
According to official NACOC enforcement data, the Commission recorded only 73 arrests nationwide in 2024 under the NPP government, but the figure surged to 217 arrests across 165 cases in 2025 under the Mahama-led NDC government — representing a 197% increase and the largest annual enforcement increase in the Commission’s history.
The 2025 operations also led to the seizure of 1,497.75 kilogrammes of narcotic substances with an estimated street value of US$5.24 million, plus thousands of units of controlled substances.
Mr. Kofi Kilifingh argued that under the NPP, institutions mandated to fight the canker, including NACOC and the Ghana Police Service, were not adequately resourced and empowered to aggressively pursue drug barons, a situation he said allowed them to operate with impunity.
He however commended the current NDC government led by President John Dramani Mahama for what he described as renewed commitment and decisive action in combating drug trafficking.
He attributed the successes chalked to President Mahama’s dedication to the fight against narcotics, improved inter-agency collaboration, and the strengthening of NACOC’s operational presence across all 16 regions.
The aspiring Deputy Regional Communication Officer called on all Ghanaians to rally behind President Mahama and support the security services to ensure that all persons involved in drug trafficking are arrested and made to face the full rigours of the law.
Samu Kofi Kilifingh concluded that drug trafficking remains a serious threat to the future of the Ghanaian youth and must be tackled with a united front to protect them from drug abuse and addiction, stressing that the NDC government is committed to building a drug-free Ghana.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
