Muntaka: Ghana Urged to Boost Transnational Crime Cooperation

• Ghana's Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, urged stronger law enforcement cooperation to combat transnational crimes.
• The call was made at a West African Police Information System (WAPIS) Ghana National Committee meeting in Accra on November 2, 2026.
• Key crimes identified include human trafficking, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and financial crime, which exploit communication gaps.
• Agencies must enhance their capacity for timely, secure, and lawful collection, management, analysis, and sharing of criminal information.
• The effectiveness and sustainability of WAPIS depend on technology, accurate data, resources, inter-agency collaboration, and collective stakeholder commitment.

The Minister underscored that the inherently cross-border nature of modern criminal enterprises demands a unified response from security institutions.

Ghana's Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, recently urged law enforcement agencies to significantly enhance their cooperation and information-sharing mechanisms. This appeal was made during a meeting of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) Ghana National Committee (WANACO) held at the Police Headquarters in Accra. The primary objective of this intensified collaboration is to effectively combat the escalating threat posed by transnational crimes, thereby fortifying both national and regional security frameworks.

The Minister underscored that the inherently cross-border nature of modern criminal enterprises demands a unified response from security institutions. He emphasized that improved information exchange is vital for supporting ongoing investigations and proactively preventing criminals from exploiting any vulnerabilities within existing security systems. Among the specific illicit activities highlighted as requiring closer inter-agency coordination were human trafficking, drug trafficking, cybercrime, financial crime, and various other forms of organized criminal operations, all of which increasingly transcend national borders.

A critical observation made by Minister Mohammed-Mubarak was that criminals consistently leverage communication gaps and deficiencies in information exchange among security institutions. This strategic exploitation by illicit actors makes robust and effective collaboration an indispensable tool in the fight against such activities. Consequently, law enforcement bodies are tasked with strengthening their capabilities across several key areas.

These areas include the collection, management, analysis, and sharing of criminal intelligence. The Minister stressed that these processes must be conducted in a manner that is timely, secure, and fully compliant with legal frameworks. By enhancing these core functions, Ghana law enforcement information sharing can become a more formidable deterrent against sophisticated criminal networks operating across West Africa.

The efficacy of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) is contingent upon a multifaceted approach, extending beyond mere technological advancements. Minister Mohammed-Mubarak articulated that the system's success relies not only on modern technology and robust infrastructure but also on the availability of accurate criminal data, sufficient resources, strong inter-agency collaboration, and the consistent retention of adequately trained personnel. To ensure WAPIS achieves its intended objectives, the Minister specifically called upon WANACO to reinforce its oversight and coordination responsibilities. This involves translating discussions into concrete decisions, clearly defined responsibilities, and measurable outcomes.

Furthermore, the long-term viability of the WAPIS program necessitates a collective commitment from all participating stakeholder institutions. The Minister explicitly stated that the implementation and sustainability of this crucial initiative should not be the sole responsibility of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) or the WAPIS Centre. Instead, every institution involved must embrace ownership of the program and actively contribute to its effective execution and enduring success. The meeting itself saw participation from significant international partners, including representatives from the European Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL), alongside various national security and law enforcement bodies, underscoring the broad commitment to tackling transnational crime West Africa.

Lawyers and compliance officers should advise clients operating in Ghana and West Africa on the increased scrutiny and enhanced enforcement risks associated with transnational crimes (e.g., human trafficking, cybercrime, financial crime). The strengthening of inter-agency cooperation and information sharing, particularly through WAPIS, implies a higher likelihood of detection and prosecution for cross-border illicit activities, necessitating robust compliance frameworks and due diligence.

Source: Reporting based on insights from Kareen Tei.