A recent claim made by Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has been debunked by a fact-checking report. Dr. Danquah stated on TV3's The Agenda show on September 15, 2026, that Ghana has become the second-biggest transit hub for cocaine in Africa, citing data from the United Nations World Drug Report. However, an investigation by GhanaFact found no evidence to support this claim.
The fact-checking report reviewed data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Reports for 2025 and 2026. The reports did not rank countries by cocaine transit hub metrics. Ghana was mentioned three times in the 2025 report and five times in the 2026 report, but none of the references were related to cocaine transit or trade. The UNODC Executive Director, Monica Juma, stated in the preface to the 2026 World Drug Report that it provides a comprehensive assessment of the world drug problem.
GhanaFact attempted to verify Dr. Danquah's claim by contacting the UNODC headquarters, but no response was received. The fact-checking team also reached out to Dr. Danquah to share any additional sources of data he relied on to make his claim, but he referred them to his research team. The investigation concluded that Dr. Danquah's claim is false.
The UNODC World Drug Report is an authoritative assessment of the world drug problem, providing evidence on drug production, trafficking, and consumption trends. The report's findings are crucial for informing policy decisions and international cooperation. In this case, the report does not support Dr. Danquah's claim about Ghana's ranking as a cocaine transit hub.
Dr. Danquah's claim was widely shared on social media, including on TV3's platforms, after the show. However, the fact-checking report has revealed that the claim is unfounded. The report's findings highlight the importance of verifying information, especially when it comes to sensitive topics like drug trafficking.
The NPP communicator's claim may have contributed to concerns about Ghana's role in the cocaine trade. However, the fact-checking report has provided clarity on the issue. The report's findings will help to ensure that accurate information is disseminated to the public.
In conclusion, the claim made by Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah that Ghana ranks second in Africa as a cocaine transit hub has been found to be false. The fact-checking report's findings are based on a thorough review of available data and evidence. The report highlights the importance of verifying information to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Key points
- Dr. Palgrave Boakye Danquah's claim that Ghana ranks second in Africa as a cocaine transit hub is false.
- The UNODC World Drug Reports for 2025 and 2026 do not rank countries by cocaine transit hub metrics.
- Ghana was mentioned in the reports, but not in relation to cocaine transit or trade.
