'Stop excessive financial demands before sharing information with us' — Interior Minister on US$20m demand by informant

Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka has appealed to Ghanaians to support security agencies with credible intelligence, warning against excessive financial demands by informants.

He disclosed that an individual recently demanded US$20 million from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in exchange for information that could lead to the discovery of a major drug consignment.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, October 12, 2026, Mr Muntaka said the demand was far beyond the commission's financial capacity, although the government remained willing to compensate people whose information helped authorities combat crime.

He said the incident raised concerns about the difficulties law enforcement agencies faced in obtaining useful intelligence from the public, particularly when informants attached exorbitant financial conditions to their cooperation.

"What is the budget of the whole Narcotics Control Commission that somebody, an informant, is making this kind of demand?" he asked.

According to the minister, the individual allegedly approached the Director-General of NACOC and offered to lead the commission to a major drug consignment in return for US$20 million.

Mr Muntaka said informants who supplied reliable information and reached an agreement with the authorities on compensation deserved to be paid as promised. However, he stressed that such arrangements had to reflect the resources available to the relevant institutions.

He disclosed that since taking office at the Interior Ministry, several individuals had approached him with information about suspected illegal activities, with some requesting financial assistance in return for their cooperation.

The minister said the government recognised the importance of public intelligence in preventing crime and apprehending suspects but could not guarantee payment of every amount demanded by informants.

"We are pleading with our citizens that we need to keep all of us safe. We don't have unlimited resources. Sometimes we do this from our own pocket. Please, help us," he said.

He added that authorities could assist informants with reasonable expenses, including transportation, where necessary, but urged the public to avoid making excessive financial demands that could undermine efforts to obtain critical information.

Ghana making progress in drug fight

Beyond the concerns surrounding informants' demands, Mr Muntaka said Ghana was making progress in identifying and arresting people suspected of involvement in drug-related offences.

He attributed the improvement to collaboration with international partners and enhanced efforts by security agencies to trace suspects following the discovery or reporting of drug-related incidents.

"Previously, identifying individuals suspected of involvement in such crimes could take a long time. Today, however, we can identify suspects and make arrests within three to four days," he said.

The minister said the progress reflected ongoing efforts by Ghanaian agencies and their international counterparts to identify suspected drug traffickers and bring them before the justice system.

He cautioned that drug trafficking could not be effectively tackled by Ghana acting alone, given the cross-border nature of criminal networks involved in the illicit trade.

Mr Muntaka called for sustained intelligence sharing and cooperation among countries to help security agencies identify trafficking networks, track suspects and prevent illicit drugs from moving through the region.

He also urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities, emphasising that citizens had an important role to play in supporting the work of law enforcement agencies.

"You see something, say something," he said.
The minister reiterated that credible intelligence from the public, backed by international cooperation and the effective use of available resources, remained essential to Ghana's fight against drug trafficking.