‎"France Doesn't Trust Ghana": What the Interior Minister Actually Said, and Why It Matters

A front-page headline says France does not trust Ghana in the cocaine probe. The Interior Minister's actual words describe something narrower, but arguably more damaging: foreign partners fear that whatever they share could leak.

What Muntaka said
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak told reporters that Ghana's foreign security counterparts are hesitating to share intelligence because of insider leaks. In his words, they are "beginning to doubt" giving Ghana information "because they trace it to an insider."

He said partners cannot be sure whether the information will be secure or abused. He cited Australia, which he said is "dragging its feet," and France, where he said the situation is the same. He said he was due to meet the French Ambassador to restore cooperation.

His remarks followed the September 10 seizure at Dunkirk of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, worth about US$261 million, hidden in a container of plastic waste shipped from Ghana. French authorities said part of the consignment was destined for Antwerp.

The minister also alleged that some insiders in the security agencies are aiding criminal activity, and said trained and vetted personnel are "trading" with their positions.

Not quite "distrust of Ghana"
Neither France nor Australia has been quoted publicly saying it distrusts Ghana. The claim comes from the minister's own account of foreign attitudes.

That does not make it less serious. If accurate, it means the concern is not about Ghana's intentions but about the integrity of its security services, and that concern is already limiting joint work.

Ghana's own investigation
Charges: Six people were remanded on September 17 over four containers that allegedly left Tema. Four are Ghana Revenue Authority officers linked to the scanning process. All are presumed innocent.

Arrests: The Narcotics Control Commission has said further arrests are possible, and later reports mention ten people arrested. I have not independently confirmed the full list.

Presidency: President Mahama chaired a high-level security meeting on the case.

The political fight
The NPP has demanded the removal of a long list of officials, including the Interior Minister himself. Its representative said the minister's statement "alone should have triggered his resignation."

The party also claims 12 major narcotics cases linked to Ghana between 2025 and September 2026, with combined value above one billion US dollars. That figure is the NPP's own tally and should be treated as a party claim. Even a former NDC deputy general secretary, Koku Anyidoho, called the episode an embarrassment for the NDC government.

Why it matters beyond Accra
Intelligence cooperation is the main tool against West African transit trafficking. Seizures at European ports come from tips shared between agencies, and a partner that withholds them makes detection and prosecution harder. Under-resourced states along the Gulf of Guinea have an incentive to show that they can protect shared information.

If Ghana cannot, it risks being treated as a leaky link in the chain and losing the cooperation that would help it most.

What is needed
Vetting and counter-intelligence: Publish or brief Parliament on the steps to tighten screening and information handling in port and security agencies.

Restoring the partnership: Report on the meeting with the French Ambassador and what assurances were given.

Accountability: Let the prosecutions run their course and name any officials the minister says are complicit, if evidence supports it.

Mustapha Bature Sallama
Medical/ Science Communicator,
Private Investigator, Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Analysis,

International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding. (USIP)

[email protected]
+233555275880

Sources
3News: "Cocaine busts: Australia, France hesitant to share intelligence over insider leaks Muntaka" (September 2026)

Yen.com.gh: "Australia, France Withhold Intelligence From Ghana Over Insider Leaks Muntaka" (September 2026)

Rainbow Radio Online: "Ghana risks foreign intelligence cut-off over insider criminal links Interior Minister" (September 17, 2026)

GhanaWeb / The Herald Ghana: "10 suspects busted in US$261 million cocaine shipment"

GBC Ghana Online: "NPP demands removal of officials over drug trafficking concerns"

Asaase Radio: "Cocaine saga is an embarrassment; seeing this under NDC hurts me Anyidoho"

3News: "Court remands six over alleged export of 3.9 tonnes of cocaine to France"

The Daily Gist, front page, September 28, 2026