The Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Maxwell Obuba Mantey, has expressed concern that some members of the public now expect financial rewards before providing information on suspected drug-related activities.

He spoke before Parliament's Assurances Committee on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Major General Mantey said public intelligence remains one of NACOC's most important tools in combating narcotics trafficking, but the growing expectation of payment is becoming a challenge.

There is increased scrutiny of Ghana's role in international drug trafficking following the seizure of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a charcoal shipment from Ghana and intercepted in Australia.

According to Major General Mantey, drug trafficking networks continue to adapt their methods to avoid detection, making cooperation between the commission and the public increasingly important.

"Each day, the traffickers evolve new strategies and try to go ahead of us. They connect, and they cooperate among themselves as to how to outwit us," he said.

Major General Mantey noted that although NACOC depends heavily on intelligence from the public, some informants now attach financial conditions to the information they provide.

"As my minister said, we base most of our operations on intelligence. The only thing is that Ghanaians now have become a bit demanding, so when they send you intelligence, they demand money," he said.

He recalled one instance in which an individual offered to provide intelligence on condition that NACOC built him a house.

"There was a time somebody came to me and said, if I could build him a house, he would help me do a lot. Unfortunately, we couldn't do that," he said.

Despite the challenge, Major General Mantey said NACOC remains committed to intelligence-led operations and will continue to work with the public and other stakeholders to tackle drug trafficking.

He stressed that sustained public cooperation is essential to preventing Ghana from being used as a transit point for international narcotics.