Former Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, has expressed concerns about the government's ability to investigate major narcotics consignments that have allegedly passed through Ghana undetected. He made these comments in response to the rejection of a Minority motion seeking a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana. Jinapor emphasized the need for an independent investigation.
The criticism comes after the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French Customs at Dunkirk in September, reportedly from a container shipped from Ghana. The Minority has called for scrutiny of cargo-scanning, risk-profiling and inspection procedures at Ghana's ports. Jinapor questioned whether existing scanning, surveillance and intelligence systems are sufficient to prevent large quantities of illicit drugs from leaving the country.
Jinapor also referenced recent admissions by Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak regarding suspected insider dealings, arguing that the developments make independent parliamentary scrutiny important. He accused the government of seeking to avoid accountability and described the situation as a potential "grand cover-up". Jinapor called for the use of lawful parliamentary mechanisms to demand answers.
The proposed parliamentary committee would have examined the roles of institutions responsible for narcotics enforcement, customs, port operations and border security. Jinapor emphasized that the government cannot investigate drug exports under its own watch. He stressed the need for an independent investigation to uncover the truth.
The incident has sparked concerns about Ghana's ability to detect and prevent the export of illicit drugs. The government has faced criticism for its handling of the situation. Jinapor's comments reflect the growing concerns about the government's ability to investigate and address the issue.
The Interior Minister's admission of suspected insider dealings has added to the concerns about the government's ability to investigate the issue internally. Jinapor's call for an independent investigation has been echoed by others who are concerned about the government's handling of the situation.
The government's response to the criticism and the incident remains to be seen. The issue has sparked a debate about the need for an independent investigation and the government's ability to address the problem of illicit drug exports.
Key points
- The government faces criticism for potentially investigating drug exports internally.
- An independent parliamentary inquiry is being sought to investigate major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana.
- The incident has sparked concerns about Ghana's ability to detect and prevent the export of illicit drugs.
