Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu has expressed profound outrage over a perceived lenient treatment of key suspects involved in the ongoing Ghana Airport Cocaine Smuggling Scandal.
The National Democratic Congress lawmaker in a scathing revelation recounted that his findings unveiled a perplexing arrangement whereby suspects are entitled to receive two-thirds of their salaries while on interdiction.
Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa in condemning the arrangement described it as a grossly inadequate measure that fails to serve as a deterrent to other operatives at the Kotoka International Airport who may be tempted to engage in similar illicit activities.
“Intercepted letters of interdiction in the ongoing Ghana Airport Cocaine Smuggling Scandal reveal that the key suspects are to enjoy two-thirds of their salaries while on interdiction.
“My outrage is also premised on the fact that whereas the state can refund salaries to interdicted suspects who may be acquitted, it is virtually impossible for the state to retrieve these salaries from those found complicit”.
Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Furthermore, the Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs vehemently emphasized that the arrangement undermines efforts to combat drug smuggling and sends the wrong message to those involved in such criminal activities.
He highlighted the glaring disparity between the punitive measures enforced by Ghanaian authorities and the stricter protocols observed by their counterparts in countries like Belgium, where airport officials have demonstrated greater vigilance in thwarting drug trafficking attempts.
Moreover, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa raised pertinent questions regarding the systemic failures that enable drug smuggling to persist within Ghana’s airports, despite significant investments in infrastructure such as Terminal 3.
He questioned the lack of accountability among Ghanaian airport operatives and called for an investigation into the individuals or entities which may be complicit in facilitating the alleged illicit operations.
Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, Honorable Ablakwa urged Ghana to adopt a more stringent and uncompromising stance in the fight against drug smuggling, which he bemoaned has tarnished the country’s reputation on the international stage.
He also emphasized the need for all airport officials, from board members to frontline staff, to understand that there are severe consequences for abetting criminal activities, rather than being allowed to enjoy financial benefits while under investigation.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa concluded by stressing on the need for the management of the Ghana Airport Company to undertake reforms in its daily operation to root out all forms of illicit activities at the country’s airport.
He also underscored the urgent need for state authorities including custom and security officials to take decisive action to address the pervasive issue of drug smuggling within Ghana’s borders.
Proeger Delgey Bianca, a female, who is Dutch national, was apprehended at Brussels Airport with eight and a half (8.5) kilograms of suspected cocaine, allegedly transported through KIA on the mentioned date.
The Herald Newspaper reported that the scandal emerged following the arrest of a significant quantity of illegal drugs at Brussels Airport in Belgium, with reports indicating that the cocaine was smuggled through KIA aboard the Moroccan national carrier, Royal Air Maroc, facilitated by a GACL staff member on March 23, 2024.
Subsequently, the Ghana Airport Company in a statement dated April 10, confirmed the commencement of investigations and the interdiction of the staff involved in the incident.
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