Interior Minister Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak has called for stronger collaboration between the Ministry of the Interior and traditional authorities to sustain peace, improve community security, and combat drug trafficking in Ghana, during a courtesy visit to the Ga Mantse, His Royal Majesty King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at his residence.
The meeting, held to discuss matters of mutual interest, focused on strengthening engagement between the government and traditional leaders and exploring areas of cooperation to address security concerns within communities, according to a statement shared on the Minister’s Facebook page.
According to the Minister, the Ga Mantse commended the Ministry of the Interior for its efforts to maintain peace and security across the country and expressed appreciation to President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Mr. Mubarak as Minister for the Interior, noting that the engagement would help strengthen cooperation between the Ministry and traditional institutions.
The Asawase Member of Parliament, in turn, expressed gratitude to the Ga Mantse for the warm reception and commended him for his leadership and contribution to peace and stability in the Ga State, stressing the importance of closer collaboration between the Ministry and traditional authorities in preventing crime, maintaining law and order, and responding to emerging security threats.
The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preventing Ghana from becoming a transit point for illicit drugs, calling for increased vigilance, intelligence-sharing, and coordinated action among relevant stakeholders to combat drug trafficking and related criminal activities.
Alhaji Mubarak further emphasized the need for sustained cooperation between the Ministry of the Interior and traditional leaders to promote peaceful coexistence, strengthen community security, and protect the peace enjoyed by the country, noting that peace and security were shared responsibilities requiring strong partnerships between government institutions and traditional authorities.
Background: Drug Trafficking a Growing Concern
The courtesy visit comes amid heightened government attention to narcotics trafficking, which the Minister has previously identified as one of Ghana’s major security concerns alongside ethnic conflicts and land disputes .
In recent public remarks, Mr. Mubarak alleged that cannabis traffickers were using ambulances and bullion vans to transport the substance, citing intelligence received by security agencies . He also disclosed that Ghana has more than 300 unapproved border crossing points compared with only 48 legitimate entry points, a vulnerability that complicates efforts to intercept illicit goods .
The Minister has vowed not to yield to political pressure in prosecuting drug suspects, stating in October that “crime is a crime” and that evidence would be tested in court regardless of who is involved .
Enforcement figures released by the Majority Leader in September showed that Narcotics Control Commission arrests rose from 73 in 2024 to 217 in 2025, a 197 percent increase, with seizures of 1,497.75 kilogrammes of narcotic substances valued at an estimated US$5.24 million .
About the Ga Mantse
King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, born Kelvin Nii Tackie Abia on August 2, 1971, was enstooled as Ga Mantse on May 9, 2020, and also serves as President of the Ga Traditional Council . Before his enstoolment, he held a PhD from the University of California and an MBA from KNUST, and worked as a lecturer in entrepreneurship at KNUST and Kumasi Technical University. He also served as a vice-presidential running mate to independent candidate Jacob Osei Yeboah in the 2012 general elections .
The engagement forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of the Interior to strengthen cooperation with traditional leadership in addressing security challenges and promoting safer communities across Ghana, with the Minister reiterating that effective collaboration with traditional authorities would be critical to preventing crime, safeguarding national stability, and ensuring the security of all.
