Zimbabwe has announced plans to draw lessons from Ghana’s acclaimed strategies in combating drug abuse and illicit trafficking, as part of preparations to establish its new national anti‑drug agency.
The Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Ghana, His Excellency K.E. Chinoza, paid a courtesy call on the Director‑General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, to brief the Commission’s leadership on the proposed benchmarking mission. The meeting was attended by the Director‑General and his two deputies.
Ambassador Chinoza explained that Zimbabwe’s Transition Task Team intends to undertake a benchmarking exercise in selected African countries with established drug control institutions, with Ghana identified as a key destination. He noted that the mission would study Ghana’s institutional framework and operational strategies, which have earned NACOC continental recognition.
“In preparation for the establishment of the Agency, a Transition Task Team intends to undertake a benchmarking exercise with selected countries, including Ghana, that have established anti‑drug institutions and proven drug control frameworks,” Ambassador Chinoza stated.
The exercise will focus on areas such as institutional design, governance systems, intelligence‑led enforcement, rehabilitation programmes, border management, international cooperation, and inter‑agency coordination. It is also expected to lay the foundation for long‑term collaboration between Ghana and Zimbabwe, including technical cooperation, intelligence sharing, and capacity building.
Ambassador Chinoza highlighted that Ghana’s NACOC model was recently cited as best practice for inter‑agency coordination during the 13th Africa Security Symposium (ASEC 2026).
In his remarks, Major General Mantey expressed appreciation to Zimbabwe for selecting Ghana as a benchmark country. He reaffirmed NACOC’s commitment to supporting African nations in strengthening their drug control systems through knowledge sharing and collaboration.
“We are ready to share our experiences and international best practices in the fight against illicit drugs. Drug trafficking is a transnational challenge and our collective success depends on collaboration among African countries,” he said.
The Director‑General acknowledged that logistics remain a challenge for many agencies across the continent but emphasized that sustained government commitment and institutional reforms have enabled NACOC to make significant progress in both supply and demand reduction.
The meeting reaffirmed growing cooperation between Ghana and Zimbabwe in addressing the evolving challenges of drug trafficking and substance abuse. The proposed benchmarking visit is expected to deepen bilateral relations while providing Zimbabwe with valuable insights into Ghana’s integrated and people‑centred approach to narcotics control.
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