The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for urgent action to address Ghana’s growing exposure to international drug trafficking, following a series of narcotics interceptions linked to the country.
National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, made the call at a press conference, where he accused the government of failing to confront an escalating threat to Ghana’s international reputation. Mr Boakye argued that the recent seizures should not be treated as isolated incidents but examined as part of a wider pattern requiring immediate scrutiny.
The NPP National Organiser alleged that intelligence available to the party points to Ghana becoming a significant transit point for illicit narcotics. He further claimed that officials at ports and airports may have compromised security checkpoints intended to prevent the movement of prohibited substances.
Mr Boakye also alleged that clandestine laboratories could be operating within Ghana to process narcotics for export. These claims have not been independently established, and ongoing investigations by state security agencies are expected to determine the networks and circumstances behind the recent drug cases.
“The evidence before us is mind-boggling. Ghana has become a cocaine coast, and this government must own up to that shame and quickly must find a solution to this mess, this catastrophic mess.”
Henry Nana Boakye
Furthermore, the National Organiser linked the party’s concerns to recent international interceptions involving consignments traced to Ghana. A major case under investigation involves nearly four tonnes of suspected cocaine intercepted in France after a container originating from Ghana was stopped at the Port of Dunkirk, with four people later remanded in Ghana over alleged involvement.
According to Mr Boakye, the repeated appearance of Ghana-linked consignments in foreign jurisdictions requires authorities to examine how narcotics move through the country before reaching international destinations. He consequently questioned whether existing controls at Ghana’s ports and airports remain sufficiently effective.
The NPP National Organiser further argued that the issue extends beyond individual arrests and seizures because any weakness in Ghana’s border security architecture could create opportunities for organised criminal networks. He therefore urged the government to establish where the vulnerabilities lie and identify officials whose actions or omissions may have enabled the trafficking networks.
Meanwhile, government investigations have already resulted in 10 people being held, including four officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. President John Dramani Mahama has also directed an inter-agency task force to develop a roadmap for preventing drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders.
Mr Boakye nevertheless insisted that the scale of the recent developments demands more than public assurances. He urged authorities to pursue the investigations thoroughly and provide clear answers on how Ghana-linked narcotics consignments have continued to reach international markets.
NPP Demands Sacking Of Officials Over Drug Busts
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has also demanded the removal of officials it believes have failed to prevent a recent surge in drug trafficking cases connected to Ghana, arguing that the government’s response falls short of the seriousness of the situation.
National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, made the demand while assessing the government’s response to the recent narcotics interceptions. He argued that the President’s decision to convene security officials and direct further measures should have been accompanied by immediate disciplinary action where responsibility could be established.
Mr Boakye referenced the recent series of drug-related cases as evidence that Ghana faces a serious security and reputational challenge. He recalled the Nayele Ametefe case under the first Mahama administration and argued that the latest developments had brought back questions about the effectiveness of controls at the country’s borders.
The National Organiser contended that the government should identify officials within the chain of responsibility whose performance has fallen short of expectations. He therefore called for such officials to be removed from office instead of allowing them to continue in positions where they could influence Ghana’s response to narcotics trafficking.
“We would have thought that a president confronted with such a scale of national disgrace would move immediately to relieve of their duties every official in the chain of command who has failed this country badly. They must be sacked. They have relaxed on their duties; they must be sacked.”
Henry Nana Boakye
Additionally, Mr Boakye criticised what he described as a limited executive response to the successive interceptions. He argued that convening a meeting and directing security agencies to tighten their operations should be followed by concrete decisions on accountability.
The NPP National Organiser also argued that the presence of suspects in custody does not by itself resolve questions about institutional responsibility. He called for the government to examine the entire chain involved in the movement of narcotics, from points of entry and exit to the officials responsible for maintaining security controls.
Referencing the scale of recent cases, Mr Boakye further contended that the government should demonstrate that it can act decisively when serious failures emerge. He described the drug seizures as an international embarrassment and urged the President to attach clear consequences to any proven breach of duty.
Mr Boakye consequently urged the government to move beyond statements of intent and ensure that investigations result in accountability where wrongdoing or dereliction of duty becomes established. He argued that stronger enforcement and institutional responsibility would be necessary to restore confidence in Ghana’s efforts against drug trafficking.
