The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for a bipartisan parliamentary investigation into the series of drug trafficking cases linked to Ghana, arguing that the scale of the allegations requires a transparent inquiry beyond statements from government agencies.
National Organiser of the NPP, Henry Nana Boakye, made the demand at a press conference where he questioned how a person linked to a major cocaine shipment could have had such proximity to the presidency and its security arrangements. Mr Boakye argued that the circumstances surrounding the arrest require Parliament and the relevant security institutions to establish whether access to state infrastructure may have been compromised.
The National Organiser specifically referenced the arrest of Musah Atta, whom the NPP claims has appeared in photographs and videos associated with the presidential and vice-presidential security detail. He therefore urged authorities to establish the nature of the relationship and determine whether any official access was exploited in connection with the shipment.
“How does an individual with that level of proximity to the presidency end up linked to a four-ton cocaine shipment? Did he use the access to compromise our security infrastructure? Is there any connection between people close to the seat of power and this trade?”
Henry Nana Boakye
Furthermore, Mr Boakye linked the matter to the Minority’s call for Parliament to return from recess. He argued that allegations involving consignments of cocaine valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars and Ghana’s name appearing in foreign charge sheets require parliamentary scrutiny without waiting for the normal parliamentary calendar.
The NPP National Organiser consequently urged the Speaker to recall Parliament to enable lawmakers to examine the circumstances surrounding the various drug cases. He explained that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight over the Executive and should therefore have the opportunity to investigate matters of significant public interest.
Beyond the recall, Mr Boakye proposed a special bipartisan committee drawn from both sides of the House. He called for the committee to have authority to summon witnesses, demand relevant documents and conduct its proceedings publicly.
“We therefore call on the Speaker to recall the House without delay, and we call for the establishment of a special bipartisan committee drawn from both sides of the aisle, with full powers to summon witnesses, compel the production of documents, and sit in public session to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the drug scandal linked to Ghana.”
Henry Nana Boakye
Additionally, the NPP National Organiser argued that a public process would allow officials from security agencies, port authorities and other institutions to account for their actions. He questioned whether an internal investigation led by the same administration whose appointees oversee some of the institutions under scrutiny could adequately settle the questions surrounding the cases.
Mr Boakye therefore urged the government to support the proposed bipartisan inquiry if it has confidence in the transparency of its actions. He argued that placing the evidence before Parliament and the public would provide an opportunity for the allegations and the government’s response to be examined through a formal process.
NPP Says Tema Has Become A ‘Corridor Of Cocaine’
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) also questioned the leadership of Tema Port amid a series of drug seizures, with the party’s National Organiser demanding explanations for the extension of the contract of the officer overseeing the strategic facility.
Henry Nana Boakye, the National Organiser of the NPP linked the growing association between Tema Port and major narcotics cases. Mr Boakye argued that the port serves as Ghana’s principal gateway for international trade and therefore requires leadership capable of maintaining strong security controls.
According to Mr Boakye, the officer currently commanding Tema Port has reached the end of his service before the government extended his contract. He questioned the basis for retaining the officer when several major drug cases had occurred during the period of his leadership.
The National Organiser further linked the port’s current reputation to what he described as repeated narcotics incidents. He therefore challenged the government to explain the basis for extending the officer’s mandate instead of allowing him to retire.
“It’s under his command that Tema has earned the reputation of ‘corridor of cocaine.’ So we are entitled to ask: What precisely is being rewarded here when a port descends into a narcotics highway on an officer’s watch?”
Henry Nana Boakye
Furthermore, Mr Boakye questioned whether the contract extension could have been influenced by the officer’s reported family relationship with the Finance Minister. He presented the matter as an issue requiring clarification from the government rather than one that could be resolved through speculation.
The NPP National Organiser also challenged the government’s handling of investigations following previous drug seizures. He asked how many of the cases have resulted in completed prosecutions and custodial sentences, arguing that repeated arrests without clear outcomes would leave Ghanaians without answers about the effectiveness of the response.
“After each of these incidents, what happened to the investigation? How many have resulted in complete prosecution and custodial sentences? To the best of my knowledge, none. Ghanaians deserve an answer to these simple questions.”
Henry Nana Boakye
On the wider pattern, Mr Boakye claimed that the NPP’s count places the number of high-value cocaine and narcotics busts linked to Ghana under the current administration at 12 within its first 18 months. He used the figure to question whether existing security and port controls have been effective enough to prevent Ghana from being associated with international drug trafficking cases.
Additionally, the National Organiser challenged President Mahama to explain the decision to extend the officer’s contract. He argued that a government publicly presenting itself as committed to combating narcotics trafficking should also demonstrate that its appointments and administrative decisions support the objective.
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