Franklin Cudjoe describes cocaine trafficking cases as national disaster; demands parliamentary probe, dismissals

Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has described the growing number of cocaine trafficking cases linked to Ghana as a national disaster and a disgrace, calling for Parliament to be allowed to conduct an independent investigation into the developments.

He has also urged President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate action against any public officials found culpable, arguing that the repeated seizures have exposed serious concerns about the country's security arrangements and its ability to combat international drug trafficking.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, November 12, Mr Cudjoe warned that the situation was damaging Ghana's international reputation and raising questions about the effectiveness of institutions responsible for securing the country's borders.

“Now the Cocaine matter has become a national disaster, disgraceful and the whole country has become a crime scene. PARLIAMENT MUST BE ALLOWED FOR INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY. MEANWHILE HEADS MUST ROLL FROM THE TOP NOW MR PRESIDENT.”

His comments follow a series of major narcotics interceptions between 2025 and 2026, involving substantial quantities of suspected cocaine seized both in Ghana and at international ports.

One of the notable incidents occurred on March 4, 2025, when the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) intercepted a tipper truck at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast carrying more than 3.3 tonnes of cocaine hidden beneath a load of sand.

The consignment, which was reportedly being transported from Takoradi to Accra, was estimated to have a street value exceeding US$350 million.

In another incident, security operatives intercepted approximately 120 slabs of cocaine valued at about US$150 million along the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway, further raising concerns about suspected trafficking operations within the country.

International interceptions involving shipments originating from Ghana have also intensified scrutiny of the country's export security arrangements.

In June 2025, Dutch customs authorities seized approximately 4.5 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a timber consignment from Tema at the Port of Amsterdam.

Another shipment containing about 2,829 kilogrammes of cocaine, hidden in cassava flour exported from Tema, was intercepted at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium in November 2025.

In August 2026, authorities at Tema Harbour intercepted 866 parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in sacks of gari, reinforcing concerns about the possible exploitation of legitimate Ghanaian commodities to transport illicit substances.

French customs officials subsequently intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana at the Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026.

The consignment was estimated to have a street value of approximately €225 million, equivalent to about US$261 million.

Another case emerged on October 31, 2026, when a Syrian national was arrested at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, after arriving from Accra with suspected cocaine concealed in 2 pieces of luggage.

The latest incident was reported on Wednesday, November 11, when Spanish authorities announced the seizure of approximately 2.6 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a shipment of coconuts transported from Ghana through the Port of Tema.

The repeated interceptions have intensified calls for a thorough investigation into the possible involvement of local networks and weaknesses in the country's drug enforcement and cargo security systems.