The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) of Ghana has clarified that preliminary checks have found no evidence that any of the suspects in its custody over the €225 million cocaine seizure in France is a presidential escort. This statement was made by NACOC Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah. The clarification was necessary following a claim by New Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah that one of the suspects, Musah Atta, was allegedly part of the security detail of President John Dramani Mahama and the Vice President.
The claim by MP Assafuah was made through a Facebook post on Friday, September 18. In his post, Mr Assafuah questioned how a person allegedly linked to the presidential security detail could be involved in a cocaine trafficking case of such magnitude. The case involves the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs authorities from a container shipped from Ghana. NACOC's response aims to address the concerns raised by the MP and provide clarity on the matter.
According to NACOC Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah, background checks conducted on the suspects in the Commission’s custody had not established that any of them was a presidential bodyguard. Speaking on Accra-based TV3 on Sunday, September 20, he said NACOC had checked the backgrounds of all suspects currently in its custody. This was done to verify the claims made by MP Assafuah and to ensure that all suspects are properly identified.
Mr Twum-Barimah stressed that NACOC could not independently confirm Mr Assafuah’s claim without further information about the alleged security role of Musah Atta. He stated that if there’s anything that they can give further and better particulars to, it will even help their investigations. However, as of the time of the statement, NACOC had not received any additional information to support the claim.
The Deputy Director-General also disputed the suggestion that one officer could simultaneously serve as a close escort to both the President and Vice President. He explained that under no circumstance would a close escort be allowed to serve both the President and the Vice President; it is not done that way. This is because each VIP has a dedicated team for their security.
Mr Twum-Barimah further explained that a close escort who serves a VIP has a specific role and cannot be involved in the security detail of another VIP. He added that this alone defeats the argument raised by MP Assafuah. The clarification by NACOC aims to provide transparency and accuracy in the ongoing investigations.
The development follows major cocaine seizures linked to Ghana, including the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs authorities from a container shipped from Ghana. The incident highlights the need for continued efforts to combat drug trafficking and the importance of accurate information in investigations. NACOC's statement provides an update on the ongoing investigations and addresses concerns raised by the public.
Key points
- NACOC finds no evidence that any of the suspects in its custody over the €225 million cocaine seizure in France is a presidential escort.
