Ministry of Interior inaugurates Sabon Zongo Community Watch Committee

The Ministry of Interior inaugurated the Sabon Zongo Neighborhood Watch Committee in Accra on Friday, September 26, 2025, as part of efforts to combat drug peddling and abuse in the community.

The initiative, driven by the youth of Sabon Zongo over the past seven months, aims to enhance security and strengthen collaboration between residents and the police.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including the police command and community leaders, marking a significant step in empowering neighborhoods to take charge of their safety.

Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Kamal Bebe, who also serves as Chief of the Zanfara community in Ablekuma Central, urged the government to prioritise development projects in Sabon Zongo.

He appealed for better roads, healthcare facilities, educational infrastructure, and support to secure office space for the Committee’s operations.

Alhaji Bebe also expressed concern that drug peddlers were relocating their activities from Sabon Zongo to the Korle Lagoon, warning that this poses a threat to schoolchildren and youth.

He called on the Ghana Police Service and the Ministry of Interior to grant the Committee authority to extend its fight against drug trafficking to the Korle Lagoon area.

Representing the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, Dan Abdul-Latif, Ibrahim Anyass Ahmed commended the Committee’s efforts and conveyed the MP’s full support.

He emphasised the importance of close collaboration with the police command and pledged to meet with Committee leadership for further deliberations.

On behalf of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ablekuma Central, Frank Nkansah, Assembly member Muntari Wahab reaffirmed the Assembly’s support for the initiative.

He highlighted the devastating effects of drug abuse on public health and social stability and pledged the Assembly’s backing for the Committee while acknowledging the vital role of the Ghana Police Service.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Zongo Development Fund, Halidu Haruna, praised the Accra Zongo Chief, Sarki Yahaya Hamisu Bako, for spearheading the campaign against drug abuse.

He stressed the importance of tackling root causes such as unemployment and peer pressure, while pledging resources for rehabilitation and skills training. Hon. Haruna also announced that the Fund would sponsor two years of office rent for the Committee to ensure effective operations.

Supporting this gesture, the National Coordinator of the Zongo and Inner Cities Secretariat, Alhaji Baba Lamin Abu Sadat, assured the Committee of the Secretariat’s backing and revealed that President John Dramani Mahama had personally pledged to cover a two-year rent for their office space.

Deputy Minister of Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, speaking on behalf of the Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, tasked the Committee to serve with integrity, accountability, and dedication.

He noted that the Committee forms part of the “Zongo Against Drugs and Development Initiative,” aimed at curbing drug abuse while promoting community development.

He called on all stakeholders, including community members, youth, and law enforcement agencies, to commit to sustained efforts in addressing drug abuse, urging vigilance, education, and proactive support for affected persons.

With its inauguration, the Sabon Zongo Neighborhood Watch Committee is expected to play a central role in promoting security, combating illicit drug activities, and safeguarding the future of the community.