Afenyo-Markin accuses govt of using ‘red herrings’ to divert attention from drug trafficking

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the government of deliberately using what he describes as diversionary tactics to steer public attention away from concerns over national security and drug trafficking.

Speaking at the launch of the 30th GJA Media Awards in Accra on Wednesday, October 7, Mr Afenyo-Markin cited the arrest of a 40-year-old nurse from Techiman over her alleged connection to the social media account, Ghana Jollof.

He claimed the incident was being used to distract attention from a series of international drug-trafficking cases involving consignments linked to Ghana.

According to the Minority Leader, the alleged involvement of Ghana-originating consignments in drug-trafficking investigations has serious implications for the country’s international reputation and legitimate businesses.

He said Ghanaian exporters of timber, cocoa, cashew and other agricultural products were increasingly facing stricter scrutiny, longer cargo holds and additional inspection costs at European and other international ports because of what he described as Ghana’s heightened risk profile.

Mr Afenyo-Markin further accused the government of resorting to state security agencies against political opponents and other citizens whenever demands are made for answers over alleged security lapses.

“Yet whenever the Minority caucus or concerned citizens demand accountability on these massive security failures this government deploys a deliberate red-herring to swerve public discourse,” he said.

He linked what he described as the government’s diversionary approach to the interception in France of nearly four tonnes of cocaine in a container that had arrived from Ghana.

Mr Afenyo-Markin alleged that, following the interception, the government “engineered the high profile disruption surrounding Salome Awiti Boaffoe and Ghana Jollof.”

He maintained that the focus on the Ghana Jollof-related arrest risked shifting attention from broader questions surrounding Ghana’s alleged links to international drug-trafficking activities and the implications for the country’s security and trade.