Ghana’s Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association (PRINPAG) has renewed its partnership with the Narcotic Control Commission (NACOC) to strengthen media involvement in the country’s fight against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, officials said on Monday.
Executives of PRINPAG met with NACOC Director-General Brigadier-General Maxwell Obuba Mantey in Accra to discuss joint efforts aimed at curbing rising drug use, particularly among youth. The meeting focused on enhancing public education and promoting responsible reporting on narcotics-related issues.
“Drug use among the youth is eroding the country’s future,” Mantey said. “We must work together to tackle this challenge head-on.”
He cited the growing prevalence of synthetic drugs and the influence of social media and poor parenting as contributing factors. Mantey said NACOC would continue to enforce drug laws without regard to social status and called for stronger media collaboration in public awareness campaigns.
The commission also announced plans to launch training sessions for journalists on cannabis regulations currently under parliamentary review. The initiative, in partnership with the Ghana Standards Authority, aims to improve media understanding of the legal framework and ensure accurate coverage of narcotics policy.
PRINPAG President David Tamakloe said the association was committed to supporting NACOC through nationwide sensitization and capacity-building for journalists.
“As editors and news publishers, we are the eyes and ears of the public,” Tamakloe said. “We believe this collaboration will help us better understand the issues and report more effectively on them.”
NACOC’s Public Affairs Officer, Nana Osei Nkwantabisa I, said the commission would work to establish a more structured relationship with the media to support future initiatives.
Both organizations agreed to deepen engagement and explore practical strategies to promote transparency and national awareness in the fight against drug abuse.
PRINPAG represents journalists, editors, and publishers from Ghana’s private newspapers and online media platforms.
The association advocates for press freedom, ethical journalism, and national development.