Narcotics Control Board (Ghana)

Functions

The agency has three main functions, supervised by the Interior Ministry. The functions consist of the following:

1. Enforcement and control of narcotic control laws in the country
2. Education and prevention of the use of narcotics
3. Treatment, rehabilitation and social re-integration of narcotic addicts.

The board regularly has inspectorates at various entry points of the country, particularly airports and seaports. Regular sweeps are conducted on marine vessels and on passengers at airports as part of security checks.During these inspections, if any suspected narcotic products are found, they are confiscated by the board and tested to determine their substance. The offenders are then brought before the courts to face legal proceedings. The confiscated narcotic products are subsequently destroyed to prevent their redistribution. One such burning was done in June 2010 when the board destroyed 167 kilograms of seized cocaine at the Teshie Shooting Range in Accra.

In 2009, NACOB announced a one-year campaign "to raise public awareness of the harmful effects of illicit drugs on the economic, social, political and cultural aspects of the country and its security." The campaign's theme was "Do Drugs Control Your Life?", and it featured movie screenings, TV and radio discussions, and competitions for paintings and essays. The campaign was targeted primarily at high-school juniors and seniors.