A member of Ghana's New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwasi Kwarteng, has expressed concerns about the inability of scanners at Accra International Airport to detect cocaine. He noted that while scanners can identify items like power banks, canned drinks, and perfumes, they fail to detect hidden cocaine. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of Ghana's security and anti-narcotics institutions. Kwarteng's comments were made on TV3's Key Points program on November 7.
The NPP has called for the immediate dismissal of heads of several institutions, including the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and National Security. The party cites Ghana's growing involvement in international cocaine trafficking as a reason for their demand. According to the NPP, at least 14 major cocaine and drug seizures have been recorded between March 2025 and October 2026, with a significant amount of drugs seized abroad.
The NPP's Second National Vice Chairman, Henry Nana Boakye, also known as Nana B, addressed a press conference on November 4, highlighting the issue. He stated that six weeks prior, the party had warned that Ghana was becoming a corridor for cocaine, and recent seizures have proven this. Nana B mentioned that seven interceptions occurred on Ghanaian soil, involving approximately 3.6 tonnes of drugs, while over 12 tonnes of cocaine traced to Ghana were seized abroad.
The street value of cocaine intercepted outside Ghana is estimated to be between $1.3 billion and $1.7 billion. Nana B cited several incidents, including the seizure of nearly 4,500kg of cocaine concealed in a timber shipment from Ghana at Amsterdam in June 2025. Another incident involved 2,829kg hidden in cassava flour shipped from Tema and intercepted at Antwerp in November 2025.
The NPP has questioned NACOC's account of a recent cocaine interception at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport. Lebanese Customs, working with the country's General Security, arrested a Syrian national who had arrived from Accra with 40 packages of cocaine weighing 46.7kg. The NPP challenged NACOC's explanation that the seizure was part of a controlled delivery operation and demanded clarification on the identity of persons arrested in Ghana.
The NPP has made several demands, including a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into all Ghana-linked cocaine seizures since January 2025. They have also called for the publication of a security roadmap developed by an inter-agency task force and a joint statement with Lebanese authorities confirming NACOC's claim about the Beirut operation. Additionally, the party seeks the arrest and prosecution of officials allegedly involved in bribery at the Accra International Airport.
The NPP's demands also include the immediate dismissal of heads of NACOC, GACL, GPHA, and National Security. They are seeking an update on the prosecution of Musah Attah, who was charged in connection with a cocaine shipment intercepted at Dunkirk, France. The party also wants an explanation of Attah's alleged access to presidential security and the publication of all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025.
Key points
- The NPP has raised concerns about the government's handling of the growing cocaine trafficking issue in Ghana.
- The party has demanded the dismissal of several high-ranking officials and a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the issue.
- The NPP is also seeking greater transparency and accountability from the government in addressing the problem.
