Interior Minister plans polygraph tests for security personnel amid suspected drug trafficking leaks

The Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has announced plans to introduce polygraph testing for personnel selected for sensitive security operations as part of efforts to address suspected information leaks within Ghana’s security services.

He said the proposed measure would be accompanied by improvements in equipment, working conditions and supervision to strengthen operations against drug trafficking.

“We are going to be doing polygraph of every person that will be part of an operation so that we can at least vouch their integrity in terms of what we are going to be doing," he said.

Speaking in a radio interview on Joy FM on Monday morning, October 12, monitored by Graphic Online, the minister said suspected insider leaks were undermining investigations and compromising Ghana’s efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.

He also disclosed that some informants had been demanding exorbitant payments before providing information to security agencies, creating additional financial challenges for the state.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak cited an instance in which an informant allegedly approached the Director-General of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and demanded $20 million in exchange for information about a major drug consignment.

He questioned how the state could meet such demands when security agencies were already operating with limited resources.

The minister added that other individuals had approached the authorities with information but insisted on receiving money before disclosing the details.

Suspected leaks threaten international cooperation

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said concerns about the possible leakage of sensitive operational information had raised questions about the security of intelligence exchanged between Ghanaian agencies and their international counterparts.

He explained that foreign security officials often shared intelligence through professional networks before governments proceeded with formal cooperation under mutual legal assistance procedures.

According to him, suspicions that individuals with access to confidential information could be connected to drug trafficking networks risked eroding the confidence of international partners in Ghana’s ability to protect shared intelligence.

The minister, however, said Ghana had formally engaged relevant foreign authorities over ongoing cases and that cooperation remained active.

He cited arrests linked to investigations involving France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Australia as examples of the international collaboration.

Security agencies to review operational procedures

To address the concerns, Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the authorities were reviewing operational procedures and training additional personnel to enable more frequent rotations of officers assigned to sensitive duties.

The planned changes, he indicated, would complement the proposed polygraph testing and improvements in equipment, supervision and working conditions.

The minister also disclosed that about 84 people were in remand custody while standing trial in various narcotics cases before the courts.

He clarified, however, that the figure covered multiple cases and should not be interpreted to mean that all 84 suspects were connected to the cocaine consignment seized in France.