Director Of Pantang Hospital Criticises IGP’s “Rambo-Style” Drug Raids And Calls For Health-Focused Approach
The acting Director-General of Pantang Hospital, Dr Yennusom Maalug, has strongly criticised the approach being used by the Ghana Police Service to tackle drug abuse in the country, describing recent police operations as “Rambo-style” and unsustainable.
Dr Maalug made the comments during an interview on Amansan TV’s Breakfast Show on Monday, February 23 2026, where he questioned the effectiveness of aggressive raids carried out by the Inspector General of Police’s Special Operations team. These operations, he explained, often involve forceful entries into communities known for high drug use and trafficking, with suspects physically manhandled and vehicles seized in dramatic fashion.
“The punitive approach adopted by the IGP’s Special Operations team is superficial and will not achieve much,” Dr Maalug said, pointing out that suspects are often arrested and then released, only for the same cycle to repeat. He emphasised that drug dependency and abuse are complex issues that require more than just law enforcement tactics.
Instead of focusing mainly on arrests and raids, Dr Maalug urged that Ghana adopt a public health-oriented response. He called for increased investment in treatment and rehabilitation services, community support systems, structured programmes for recovery, and efforts to address the underlying social and medical causes of addiction.
The Pantang Hospital director criticised the current strategy for failing to address relapse and dependency among drug users and argued that treating drug abuse as chiefly a criminal matter overlooks the psychological and social dimensions of the problem. He pointed to international examples where holistic models balancing enforcement with health care support have resulted in better outcomes.
His remarks come amid intensified police operations targeting drug hotspots across Ghana, especially in areas with heightened concerns about substance abuse among youths. The debate over whether to prioritise forceful enforcement or to strengthen treatment and rehabilitation infrastructure is gaining traction among health professionals and policymakers.
Dr Maalug’s intervention adds a significant voice from the mental health and medical community to the national discussion on how to respond effectively to the growing drug menace in Ghana.
