Police Recruit 140 Anti-Drug Watchdogs in Zongo Communities

The Ghana Police Service has initiated a new strategy to curb drug trafficking and abuse by integrating neighborhood watchdog groups into its operations, with a strong focus on Zongo communities.

The initiative follows a directive from the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, during his recent visit to Sabon Zongo in Accra. The Minister emphasized the government’s intention to prioritize the enlistment of community members who support the arrest of drug offenders into national security agencies.

This effort is part of a broader government plan to tackle the rising threat of drug use and trafficking, particularly in marginalized urban areas.

Addressing residents at a sensitization event in Sabon Zongo on Thursday, May 8, Muntaka reaffirmed the government’s dedication to empowering young people in Zongo communities through socially and economically driven programs.

The newly formed watchdog teams—comprising both men and women—are tasked with identifying local drug hotspots and supporting a decentralized, community-based approach to enforcement.

So far, around 140 individuals have been recruited into the program.