The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested ten people for their alleged involvement in the peddling of cannabis and cannabis-infused drinks on the campus of Koforidua Technical University (KTU) in the New Juaben South Municipality .
The suspects, comprising nine males and one female, were apprehended on the night of Friday, July 31, during the university’s Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Week celebrations . The operation was carried out based on intelligence gathered by NACOC operatives regarding suspected drug-related activities on campus .
According to NACOC, the intelligence-led operation resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of suspected cannabis and several consumable products believed to have been infused with the narcotic . The exhibits included wraps of suspected cannabis, cups of “abele” ice cream, bottles of pineapple juice, sobolo drinks, fresh palm wine, and other beverages .
Preliminary field tests conducted on the seized exhibits reportedly confirmed the presence of cannabis, reinforcing suspicions that the products were being distributed to revellers during the celebrations .
NACOC Intensifies Fight Against Drug Trafficking in Tertiary Institutions
The raid is part of NACOC’s broader commitment to protecting educational institutions from drug-related activities . The operation comes amid heightened concerns about drug abuse and trafficking in Ghana’s tertiary institutions, which the Commission has identified as a priority area for enforcement action.
The ten suspects are currently assisting with investigations as NACOC works to unravel the full scope of the alleged operation and identify any additional persons connected to the illegal trade . According to the Commission, the operation was launched after it received intelligence about suspected drug-related activities on the campus .
This arrest follows a similar operation earlier this month in the Ashanti Region, where police arrested 44 suspects following an intelligence-led operation that dismantled an alleged drug distribution network accused of producing and supplying narcotic-infused products to university students . In that operation, police recovered cannabis-laced toffees, cannabis-infused alcoholic beverages, and other narcotic substances targeted at students.
Legal Context: Ghana’s Evolving Cannabis Laws
Under the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), as amended, cannabis cultivation, possession, and use remain criminalized without a license from the Minister of Health . While Ghana has opened licensing windows for the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes—with a THC content not exceeding 0.3% on a dry weight basis—the law explicitly does not authorise recreational use .
The Act empowers the Minister for the Interior to grant licences to cultivate low-THC cannabis for industrial purposes (such as fibre or seed) and for medicinal purposes, but until the regulatory framework is fully established and licences are duly issued, all activities related to cannabis remain strictly prohibited by law, except as expressly permitted under Act 1019 .
Violators face fines of 200 to 25,000 penalty units (GHC 12 per unit), imprisonment from 15 months to 25 years, or both, with imprisonment including hard labour unless otherwise stated . Currently, no licences have been issued, as the necessary Legislative Instrument to regulate the application process is pending.
Call for Vigilance
NACOC urged students and members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious behaviour to the appropriate authorities . The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to preventing drug-related activities in schools and ensuring that educational institutions remain safe environments for learning .
