The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) of Ghana has clarified that Musah Attah, one of the suspects in the recent Dunkirk cocaine seizure, has no connection to the security details of President John Dramani Mahama or Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang. According to NACOC's Deputy Director-General, Alexander Twum-Barimah, background checks conducted on the suspects revealed that Attah is a farmer, not a member of any presidential protection unit.
The clarification was made following speculation that Attah, also known as "Kromo", had worked with presidential security. The rumors were fueled by photographs circulated by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, showing Attah in close proximity to both Mahama and Opoku-Agyemang. However, Twum-Barimah explained that as a trained presidential security officer, he can attest that officers assigned to protect the President and Vice President operate in separate, distinct groups.
Twum-Barimah's comments were made on JoyNews' Newsfile on September 26. He emphasized that NACOC conducts thorough checks on all suspects arrested, and in Attah's case, there was no indication that he had ever worked with the security detail of either the President or the Vice President. The Deputy Director-General also invited the public to verify whether any serving member of the presidential or vice-presidential security teams had been arrested in the case.
The Dunkirk case involves the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine from Ghana to France. French customs authorities intercepted the suspected drugs at the Port of Dunkirk on September 10, concealed inside a container of plastic waste shipped from Ghana. Four Ghanaians, including Attah, Desmond Koranteng Curiel, Kweku Okyere, and Jessica Hartog, were arraigned before the Accra High Court on September 16 and are due to reappear on October 13.
A fifth suspect, Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers, alias "Bolle Jos", is reportedly still at large. NACOC says investigations into how the shipment left Ghana and into identifying anyone else who may have been involved are ongoing. The case has sparked a broader trafficking scandal, drawing parliamentary attention and debate over an MP's alleged role in a disputed cash deal.
The opposition New Patriotic Party has been urged not to politicize the seizure. Twum-Barimah pointed out that Ghana has recorded multiple narcotics interceptions over the years. Journalist Manasseh Azure has also pushed back against attempts to pin blame for the crisis on a 2018 drug policy. NACOC's admission that warnings had been ignored has also been reported.
The case has led to demands for a full parliamentary probe, with the Committee for Joint Action calling for a thorough investigation. As the investigations continue, the four accused Ghanaians have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to export narcotic drugs without a licence and exportation of narcotic drugs.
Key points
- NACOC clears Musah Attah of presidential bodyguard ties, confirming he is a farmer.
- The Dunkirk cocaine case involves nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine seized from Ghana to France.
- Investigations into the case are ongoing, with a fifth suspect still at large.
