Spanish Government provides €300,000 to support NACOC’s first forensic laboratory

The funding forms part of efforts to deepen cooperation between Ghana and Spain in combating illicit drug trafficking and transnational organised crime.

Spain’s Ambassador to Ghana, Ángel Lossada, announced the support during a brief ceremony to present the package to NACOC management.

He reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to supporting the Commission through capacity building, specialised training and technical assistance.

Mr Lossada said the Spanish Government was stepping up cooperation with Ghana in the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, either through the European Union Security and Defence Partnership or bilateral agreements with the Ministry of the Interior.

He also pledged support for training forensic officers to ensure the effective operation of the laboratory once it is completed.

Receiving the support, NACOC Director-General Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey expressed appreciation to the Spanish Government for its continued partnership in strengthening Ghana’s efforts to combat drug trafficking.

He described the funding as timely, noting that establishing a modern forensic laboratory had been one of his key priorities since assuming office.

According to him, the absence of a dedicated forensic facility has posed a major operational challenge, forcing NACOC to rely on other state institutions for forensic examinations.

He explained that the arrangement often delays the receipt of laboratory results, affecting the pace of investigations and prosecutions.

Major General Mantey said completing the laboratory would enable the Commission to conduct forensic examinations more promptly, strengthen investigations and improve the prosecution of drug-related offences.