The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) has called for an urgent and coordinated national response to the growing narcotics threat in Ghana. In a statement signed by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the GCBC, the Conference said the country's drug problem had become a serious national concern and a moral crisis requiring more than routine criminal enforcement. The statement was issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The Conference was reacting to the recent seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine in France, concealed in a container of plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. French customs authorities intercepted the cocaine at Dunkirk on September 10, and it was estimated to have a street value of €225 million. The cocaine was reportedly partly destined for Antwerp, Belgium. Four Ghanaians have since been arraigned before the High Court in Accra in connection with the case.
The GCBC urged investigators to establish the full extent of the network behind the shipment and commended the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and other agencies for their efforts. The Conference also welcomed the formation of an inter-agency task force to address narcotics trafficking through Ghana's ports, airports, and borders. According to the Bishops, the Dunkirk seizure is part of a broader pattern of narcotics incidents linked to Ghana.
The Conference cited several seizures and alleged trafficking incidents dating back to March 2025, including cocaine concealed under sand in a tipper truck, suspected cocaine found in sacks of gari at Tema Harbour, and methamphetamine concealed in a charcoal shipment intercepted by Australian authorities. These incidents indicate that Ghana is increasingly being used as a transit point for narcotics.
The GCBC expressed concern that high-profile seizures linked to Ghana over the past two years have exceeded US$1 billion in value, according to figures cited by more than 40 Members of Parliament in a September 18 memorandum. NACOC figures also show 217 arrests, 165 prosecutions, more than 8.5 tonnes of assorted narcotic drugs, and 45.4 million tramadol tablets intercepted during the period under review.
A major concern raised by the Bishops Conference was whether law-enforcement efforts are reaching the organisers and financiers of the trade. The statement pointed to the Pedu Junction cocaine seizure and said that, more than a year after the incident, only a driver, a housemaid, and a few peripheral suspects had been arraigned, while the alleged financiers and principal traffickers remained unidentified.
The GCBC called for stronger prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programmes, saying people struggling with addiction should receive medical, psychological, social, and spiritual support rather than being treated solely as criminals. The Conference urged the government to strengthen cooperation among the Police Service, NACOC, Customs, port authorities, the judiciary, and schools while improving detection capacity at ports, airports, and borders.
Key points
- The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference has called for an urgent investigation into drug trafficking networks after nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine were seized in France, concealed in a container of plastic waste from Ghana.
