The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) has called for an urgent and coordinated national crackdown on illicit drug trafficking. They warn that the growing narcotics menace poses a serious threat to Ghana's security, institutions, families, and the future of the youth. This call comes after a significant seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs authorities at Dunkirk on September 10, 2026.
The seized cocaine, with an estimated street value of €225 million, was concealed in a container of plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. Part of the consignment was allegedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium. Four Ghanaians have been arraigned before the High Court in Accra and remanded over alleged conspiracy to export narcotic drugs without a licence and exportation of narcotic drugs.
The GCBC noted that the Dunkirk seizure is part of a wider pattern of drug trafficking incidents linked to Ghana. Several major interceptions have been recorded since March 2025. The Conference also referenced concerns raised in a September 18, 2026 parliamentary memorandum, including cocaine seizures at Pedu Junction, on the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway and at Tema Port.
According to the Bishops, the parliamentary petitioners estimate that high-profile seizures linked to Ghana over the past two years exceed $1 billion in value. The Bishops expressed concern over the involvement of public officials in alleged narcotics-related activities, citing the reported arrest of nine public officers in March 2026 over a large consignment of undeclared tramadol at Tema Port.
The GCBC called for investigations to go beyond couriers and identify the financiers, principal traffickers, and networks behind the trade. They stressed that anyone who abused public trust to facilitate the movement of illicit drugs must be held accountable. The Conference appealed to the government to strengthen collaboration among relevant institutions to combat the menace.
The Bishops also backed Parliament's oversight role, urging relevant ministers and state agencies to account for the adequacy of drug detection, surveillance, and clearance procedures at the country's ports and airports. They called for greater investment in drug-prevention education, rehabilitation, and treatment, particularly for young people.
The GCBC urged Ghanaians to protect the dignity and future of the youth, calling for a response that is firm and lawful while also being preventive, rehabilitative, and rooted in human dignity. The Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, said the drug menace was ultimately a moral and social crisis that required collective action.
Key points
- The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has called for a coordinated national crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.
- The Conference cited several major interceptions of narcotics linked to Ghana since March 2025.
- The Bishops urged the government to strengthen collaboration among relevant institutions to combat the menace.
