Ghana becoming narcotics transit hub under NDC – Minority alleges, demands probe

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for a full-scale independent parliamentary inquiry into what it describes as Ghana’s increasing involvement in major narcotics trafficking cases under the NDC government.

The Minority said the country has repeatedly featured in major drug trafficking cases over the past 18 months, citing cocaine and methamphetamine seizures made in Ghana, Australia and France.

It said the seizures linked to Ghana now have a combined estimated value of more than US$1 billion, raising concerns about the effectiveness of measures to prevent the country from being used as a transit point by international drug cartels.

“The NDC Government must account for the nation's descent into a narcotics transit hub,” the Minority said in a statement signed by the Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, John Ntim Fordjour.

The caucus cited several local seizures, including the interception of more than 3.3 tonnes of cocaine concealed beneath sand in a tipper truck at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast in March 2025.

It also referenced the seizure of an estimated 120 slabs of cocaine along the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway and the August 2026 seizure of 866 parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in sacks of gari at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave.

The Minority further raised concerns about the landing of an aircraft at the Kotoka International Airport in March 2025, which it alleged was carrying narcotics and undeclared US currency from Gran Canaria.

It also questioned the handling of the MV Sankofa case in July 2025, alleging that the vessel, which was found sailing under a forged flag, was released by the Ghana Maritime Authority after payment of only part of an almost GH¢12 million fine.

According to the Minority, the vessel was later arrested in Senegal carrying narcotics.

The caucus also cited foreign seizures allegedly linked to Ghana, including the June 2026 seizure by Australian customs authorities of 320kg of methamphetamine concealed in a charcoal consignment traced to Ghana.

It further referenced the September 10 seizure by French customs officers at the port of Dunkirk of nearly 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine, valued at more than US$260 million, in a container of plastic waste that had departed Ghana.

“Ghana's international reputation, and the safety of our young people from the scourge of narcotics, cannot be held hostage to official silence or political convenience,” the Minority said.

The Minority is therefore demanding that the relevant sector Ministers and heads of agencies appear before Parliament to account for the status of investigations into the cited seizures.