The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) have advanced discussions on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding to conduct a nationwide baseline survey on drug use and trafficking. The engagement, held on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, followed a high-level courtesy visit by a UPSA Management delegation to the Commission’s headquarters in Accra.
The proposed collaboration reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to generating credible national data to inform public policy, strengthen prevention strategies, and support Ghana’s response to substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking.
Representing the Vice-Chancellor, the UPSA delegation was led by Professor Samuel Antwi, Director of the J.K. Horgle Transport and Logistics Centre. He was joined by Professor Alexander Preko, Director of Research; Dr Leticia Akyeampong, Acting Director of Administration; and Dr Salifu Adam of the UPSA Research and Consultancy Centre.
The delegation was received by the Director-General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell O. Mantey, together with the Deputy Director-General, Mr Alexander Twum Barimah, and other senior officials of the Commission.
Professor Antwi reaffirmed UPSA’s commitment to applied research that responds to national priorities, describing the proposed collaboration as consistent with the University’s mandate to produce policy-relevant and evidence-based knowledge for national development.
Major General Mantey welcomed the delegation and commended UPSA for its readiness to support a project of major national importance. He expressed confidence that the University’s research expertise would strengthen the design and execution of the proposed survey.
He also called for closer institutional collaboration in addressing drug abuse, particularly among young people, and stressed the need for credible evidence to guide public education, prevention, enforcement, and policy interventions.
“Ghana cannot afford to become a narcotics state,” Major General Mantey said, underscoring the urgency of coordinated national action.
Mr Twum Barimah described the proposed survey as timely, noting that it would provide a stronger empirical basis for research, public education, and policy response across the country.
Professor Preko also indicated that the partnership would help build a robust national evidence base to guide future policy formulation and institutional interventions. He added that the meeting offered both institutions an important opportunity to align priorities ahead of the proposed study.
Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to finalising the partnership framework. When implemented, the survey is expected to generate critical data to support policy development, public education, and a more coordinated national response to drug use and trafficking in Ghana.
