NACOC Ghana: No Musah Atta Presidential Escort in Cocaine Case

• Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) found no evidence that any suspect in the €225 million France cocaine case is a presidential escort.
• This statement, made on September 20, 2026, by Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah, refutes claims by New Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah.
• MP Assafuah alleged on September 18 that suspect Musah Atta was part of President John Dramani Mahama's and the Vice President's security detail.
• NACOC's background checks on all suspects in custody did not identify any presidential bodyguards.
• Twum-Barimah also clarified that a single officer cannot simultaneously serve as a close escort to both the President and Vice President.

From the background checks we have done, I don’t have any Presidential bodyguard.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in Ghana has publicly refuted claims that any individual currently in its custody, linked to a substantial €225 million cocaine seizure in France, served as a presidential escort. This clarification came on September 20, 2026, from NACOC Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah, who addressed the issue during an appearance on Accra-based TV3. The Commission's statement directly responds to allegations made by New Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who had suggested a suspect named Musah Atta was part of the security detail for both President John Dramani Mahama and the Vice President.

Mr. Assafuah's assertion, initially shared in a Facebook post on Friday, September 18, raised questions about how an individual allegedly connected to Ghana's highest security echelons could be implicated in a drug trafficking case of such significant value. The NACOC Ghana Musah Atta presidential escort allegations have drawn considerable attention, prompting the narcotics agency to conduct thorough internal checks.

According to Deputy Director-General Twum-Barimah, preliminary and subsequent background checks performed on all suspects held by NACOC have yielded no evidence to substantiate the Member of Parliament's claims. He explicitly stated that none of the individuals in their custody have been identified as a presidential bodyguard. Twum-Barimah challenged the MP to provide further and better particulars if he possesses additional information that could aid the ongoing Ghana drug trafficking investigation.

The NACOC official emphasized that the backgrounds of all detained individuals are known to the commission, and none match the description of a presidential escort. He indicated that if President John Dramani Mahama had a bodyguard implicated, that individual would need to clarify their job description and involvement. This firm denial from the Narcotics Control Commission Ghana aims to dispel the Musah Atta cocaine allegations concerning his alleged role in presidential security.

Beyond denying the specific allegation, Mr. Twum-Barimah also addressed the feasibility of an individual simultaneously serving as a close escort to both the President and the Vice President. Drawing on his own professional experience, which includes training as a personal bodyguard to the President in South Africa, he asserted that such a dual role is fundamentally impossible within established security protocols. He explained that security details are structured into distinct wings, each adequately staffed to protect one VIP.

This organizational structure prevents a single close escort from operating across two high-level principals. Twum-Barimah highlighted that this inherent operational design alone undermines the argument put forth by the MP regarding the alleged dual security role. The clarification underscores the rigorous nature of presidential security Ghana drug crime prevention efforts, and the specific roles within the protective services.

The current controversy surrounding the NACOC Ghana Musah Atta presidential escort allegations unfolds against a backdrop of significant drug seizures linked to Ghana. Notably, the €225 million France cocaine case involves a substantial quantity of narcotics. French customs authorities previously intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine originating from a container shipped from Ghana, underscoring the scale of the drug trafficking challenges faced by the nation.

These major cocaine seizures have intensified scrutiny on Ghana's efforts to combat illicit drug trade and ensure the integrity of its security apparatus. The Narcotics Control Commission Ghana continues its investigation into the €225 million France cocaine case, seeking to uncover all facts related to the Musah Atta cocaine allegations and the broader network involved.

Source: Original reporting via Myjoyonline.com