The Minority in Parliament has demanded a comprehensive independent inquiry into what it refers to as Ghana’s increasing role as a transit point for narcotics under the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
In a statement released on September 13 and signed by Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, the Minority expressed alarm at the rising frequency and scale of major narcotics trafficking incidents involving Ghana over the past 18 months. This includes both seizures conducted within the nation and drug shipments intercepted by foreign authorities that were traced back to Ghana.
The Minority highlighted the recent confiscation of cocaine, valued at over $260 million, hidden within a shipment of plastic waste by French authorities, along with several other notable narcotics seizures, as evidence of what it termed serious deficiencies in Ghana’s drug enforcement, port security, and institutional oversight.
According to the Minority, the narcotics seizures associated with Ghana during the Mahama administration have amassed a total value exceeding $1 billion within a span of less than two years.
The Minority indicated that this situation should raise alarms regarding the efficacy of the measures being taken to thwart international drug cartels from taking advantage of Ghana’s ports, airports, highways, and territorial waters.
Additionally, the Minority voiced concerns regarding what it described as the silence of state agencies tasked with preventing and investigating narcotics trafficking.
It asserted that Ghana’s port authorities have not publicly addressed the cocaine seizure in Dunkirk, while the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has also remained “conspicuously quiet.”
The Minority concluded that the increasing frequency and scale of narcotics-related incidents associated with Ghana, along with what it perceives as insufficient public explanations from the relevant institutions, should be a significant national concern.
In light of this situation, the Minority is calling for a comprehensive and independent Parliamentary investigation into the circumstances related to the numerous drug seizures.
They seek for the inquiry to explore potential complicity, negligence, or lapses in oversight by the key institutions tasked with Ghana’s internal security, transportation, ports, and narcotics regulation.
