Dennis Miracles Aboagye, a senior aide to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on the Ghanaian government to take tangible action to dispel the 'Cocaine Coast' label. In a Facebook post on October 1, 2026, Aboagye expressed his concerns about recent major drug trafficking cases linked to Ghana. He argued that simply rejecting the label would not address the concerns.
Aboagye's comments were in response to government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu's rejection of the 'Cocaine Coast' label. Kwakye Ofosu had stated that drug seizures and arrests by Ghanaian security agencies demonstrate that the country's anti-narcotics institutions are working. However, Aboagye insisted that the description was not based on cocaine seizures made by Ghanaian authorities but on the scale and frequency of consignments reportedly passing through Ghana before being intercepted in other countries.
According to Aboagye, the 'Cocaine Coast' label was earned due to unprecedented and historic large quantities of cocaine that passed through Ghana's ports, only to be arrested on foreign lands. He alleged that cocaine consignments had been allowed to enter and leave Ghana without being intercepted, claiming that this had happened "not once, not twice but about seven different ones within 20 months". This has raised concerns about Ghana's ports and security systems.
The issue has gained significant attention following several major narcotics cases. In September, French customs authorities seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk from a container carrying plastic waste that had departed from Ghana. Other major cases include the seizure of 866 parcels of cocaine at Tema Harbour in August and the interception of more than 5,100 parcels of suspected drugs in the Oti Region in September.
The government has maintained that such cases should not automatically be interpreted as proof that Ghana has become a cocaine trafficking hub. Kwakye Ofosu emphasized that authorities must distinguish between consignments intercepted by Ghanaian security agencies and those that escape detection and are subsequently seized abroad. President John Mahama has convened security agencies to address weaknesses in the country's port security arrangements.
Aboagye, however, insists that the government's response must go beyond public statements. He argued that the government can reject the name by action and not just speaking. The NPP communicator has previously called for a parliamentary inquiry into the series of cocaine-related cases, describing the matter as a national concern rather than an issue that should be reduced to partisan politics.
The debate over Ghana's alleged role in international drug trafficking continues, with various stakeholders weighing in on the issue. The Global Organised Crime Index has highlighted concerns about cybercrime and fraud in Ghana's economy. As the government works to address these concerns, Aboagye's call for action serves as a reminder of the need for concrete steps to dispel the 'Cocaine Coast' label.
Key points
- Dennis Miracles Aboagye challenges the Ghanaian government to demonstrate through concrete action that the country does not deserve the 'Cocaine Coast' label.
- Aboagye alleges that cocaine consignments had been allowed to enter and leave Ghana without being intercepted, claiming that this had happened "not once, not twice but about seven different ones within 20 months".
- The government has maintained that recent major narcotics cases should not automatically be interpreted as proof that Ghana has become a cocaine trafficking hub.
