Ghana Minority: Demands Ghana Narcotics Transit Hub Probe

• Ghana's parliamentary Minority has called for a full-scale inquiry into the nation's alleged emergence as a narcotics transit hub.
• The Minority claims over US$1 billion in high-profile narcotics seizures have been linked to Ghana in the past 18 months.
• Significant busts include 3.3 tonnes of cocaine at Pedu Junction (US$350M) and nearly 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine in Dunkirk (US$260M) from Ghana.
• Concerns persist over unresolved incidents like the MV Sankofa affair and the targeting of low-level couriers in investigations.
• The Minority demands parliamentary appearances from ministers and agency heads to address these issues and outline countermeasures.

This demand for a Ghana narcotics transit hub probe underscores growing concerns about the country's vulnerability to international drug networks.

Ghana's parliamentary Minority bloc has initiated a demand for a comprehensive, independent parliamentary inquiry into the nation's alleged emergence as a significant transit point for narcotics. Rev. Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member on Defence and Interior, issued a statement asserting that Ghana has been repeatedly implicated in major drug trafficking cases, both domestically and internationally, over the past 18 months. The Minority claims that the total value of high-profile narcotics seizures linked to Ghana during the current administration now surpasses US$1 billion.

The Minority's call for a Ghana drug trafficking parliamentary inquiry is supported by a series of significant drug busts. Domestically, on March 4, 2025, the National Intelligence Bureau intercepted a tipper truck at Pedu Junction, Cape Coast, carrying over 3.3 tonnes of cocaine, valued at more than US$350 million, hidden beneath sand. This consignment was reportedly en route from Takoradi to Accra. Another substantial seizure involved 120 slabs of cocaine, estimated at US$150 million, found along the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway. More recently, on August 5, 2026, the Tema Regional Police Command discovered 866 parcels of suspected cocaine, worth US$6.9 million, concealed within sacks of gari at a warehouse in the Tema Harbour area. These incidents point to sophisticated Ghana supply chain drug smuggling operations.

Furthermore, the July 2025 MV Sankofa Ghana narcotics affair saw a vessel, purportedly sailing under a forged flag, released after paying only a fraction of a nearly GH¢12 million fine, without a full cargo inspection. This vessel was subsequently apprehended in Senegal, where authorities found no illicit drugs on board, according to the Ghana Maritime Authority in April 2026. Beyond these direct seizures, the Minority also pointed to two unresolved incidents. An aircraft allegedly carrying narcotics and undeclared US currency from Gran Canaria landed at Kotoka International Airport around March 20, 2025, without clear resolution.

International incidents further bolster the Minority's claims. Australian customs authorities, on June 18, 2026, seized 320kg of methamphetamine, valued at US$261 million, from a charcoal consignment traced back to Ghana. Just weeks later, on September 10, 2026, French customs officers in Dunkirk intercepted nearly 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine, with a street value exceeding US$260 million, hidden in a container of plastic waste that had originated from Ghana. These foreign busts indicate the country's role in broader drug trafficking networks.

The sheer volume of these seizures prompts the Minority to question how much narcotics might be passing through Ghana undetected. They have also voiced strong criticism regarding the progress of investigations into local cases, particularly the Pedu Junction cocaine seizure Ghana. Over a year after this major bust, only the driver, a housemaid, and a few peripheral suspects have been arraigned and remain on bail, leaving the financiers and high-profile dealers behind the US$350 million shipment unidentified and unpunished.

Furthermore, the Minority has accused key government agencies of conspicuous silence. Ghana's port authorities have not publicly addressed the Dunkirk seizure, while the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has remained notably quiet on various incidents. The Ghana Maritime Authority has also failed to provide an explanation for the irregular discount and subsequent release granted to the MV Sankofa. This lack of transparency and perceived inaction fuels the demand for a comprehensive Ghana drug trafficking parliamentary inquiry.

In response to these concerns, the Minority is demanding that sector ministers and the heads of all relevant agencies appear before Parliament. They seek answers regarding the current status of ongoing investigations and an explanation for why prosecutions appear to disproportionately target low-level couriers rather than the principal traffickers and financial backers of these operations. Crucially, they also want to know who authorized the significantly reduced fine and the release of the MV Sankofa.

Finally, the Minority expects a detailed account of the specific measures being implemented to combat this escalating problem. This parliamentary demand aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency in addressing the nation's alleged role as a narcotics transit hub.

Compliance officers and legal counsel for logistics, shipping, and international trade companies operating in Ghana should review their due diligence processes and supply chain security protocols. The parliamentary demand for a full-scale probe signals increased scrutiny and potential for stricter enforcement or new legislation, elevating compliance risks related to narcotics trafficking.

Source: Original reporting via Myjoyonline.com