By Nadia Ntiamoah
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as Ghana’s disturbing transformation into an international cocaine trafficking corridor under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, accusing President John Dramani Mahama’s administration of failing to protect the country’s borders and safeguard its international reputation.
The opposition party says Ghana is increasingly becoming a preferred transit route for international drug cartels, following a series of cocaine interceptions in Europe, Australia, Africa and the Middle East involving consignments allegedly originating from the country.
In a strongly worded statement delivered at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the NPP’s Second National Vice Chairman, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, warned that Ghana risked earning an international reputation as a major cocaine transit hub if urgent measures were not taken to dismantle the networks responsible.
Addressing the press under the theme “From Dunkirk to Beirut: Ghana Cannot Wait Any Longer,” Nana Boakye disclosed that the party had identified at least 14 major cocaine and other narcotics interceptions between March 2025 and October 2026.
According to the NPP, the estimated street value of cocaine seized abroad alone ranges between US$1.3 billion and US$1.7 billion, with approximately 3.6 tonnes of cocaine intercepted within Ghana and more than 12 tonnes allegedly linked to Ghana intercepted in foreign jurisdictions.
The party described the figures as a national security emergency, arguing that the repeated appearance of Ghanaian ports and airports in international drug trafficking investigations could no longer be dismissed as isolated incidents.
From Amsterdam To Antwerp, Dunkirk And Now Beirut
Nana Boakye recalled several major international cocaine seizures involving shipments reportedly originating from Ghana.
In June 2025, Dutch authorities intercepted nearly 4,500 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of wood from Ghana. The seizure was described as the largest cocaine interception recorded at the Port of Amsterdam.
In November 2025, Belgian authorities discovered 2,829 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cassava flour shipped from Tema at the Port of Antwerp. Another 1,158 kilogrammes allegedly originating from Ghana was intercepted at the same port in December 2025.
The party also cited an April 2026 incident in which Australian police seized 320 kilogrammes of illicit drugs, estimated to be worth approximately US$210 million, concealed in a shipment of charcoal from Ghana.
In September 2026, French customs authorities intercepted approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk, concealed in a container declared as plastic waste and shipped from Ghana. The consignment was estimated to have a street value of about €225 million.
The latest incident occurred on October 31, 2026, when Lebanese authorities arrested a Syrian national at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut after he arrived from Accra aboard Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576.
The suspect was reportedly carrying 40 packages of cocaine weighing 46.7 kilogrammes in two suitcases fitted with electronic tracking devices. Lebanese authorities reportedly described the interception as the largest drug seizure in the history of the airport.
For the NPP, these repeated incidents point to a worrying pattern that requires immediate political and institutional accountability.
NPP Questions Mahama Government’s Response
The party recalled that following the massive Dunkirk cocaine interception, President Mahama chaired an emergency security meeting on September 17, 2026, and established an inter-agency task force with a two-week deadline to produce a roadmap for addressing drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders.
However, Nana Boakye complained that the October 1 deadline had passed without the roadmap being made public.
He also questioned the effectiveness of additional security measures introduced at the Accra International Airport, including the deployment of NACOC officers to screen travellers before entering the terminal.
The NPP argued that the subsequent Beirut interception had raised further questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s airport security arrangements.
NACOC’s Controlled Delivery Explanation Under Scrutiny
Another major concern raised by the opposition party is NACOC’s explanation that the cocaine was allowed to leave Ghana as part of a controlled delivery operation coordinated with Lebanese authorities.
Nana Boakye questioned why the government had not provided a comprehensive account of the operation, particularly regarding the alleged arrest of three foreign nationals in Ghana in connection with the consignment.
The party is demanding that government publish their names, nationalities and the specific offences being investigated.
It also questioned why initial public communications from Lebanese authorities reportedly credited Lebanese Customs and General Security without mentioning NACOC or any Ghanaian security agency as a partner in the operation.
The NPP further referred to reports by Lebanese broadcaster LBCI alleging that the Syrian suspect paid bribes at the Accra International Airport to facilitate the movement of his suitcases through security procedures.
Nana Boakye wants government to identify and prosecute any officials found to have accepted such payments, insisting that the public deserves to know whether individuals within the country’s security system are facilitating international drug trafficking.
NPP Demands Removal Of Security Agency Heads
The opposition party has expressed dissatisfaction with what it describes as the government’s failure to hold officials of the institutions responsible for protecting Ghana’s ports and airports accountable.
It has consequently demanded the immediate removal of the heads of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and National Security, with their respective tenures subjected to independent investigations.
The party also wants a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry with public hearings into all Ghana-linked cocaine seizures recorded since January 2025.
It further demanded regular updates on the prosecution of Musah Attah, popularly known as Kromo, who is among those charged in connection with the Dunkirk cocaine case.
The NPP questioned how the accused person allegedly gained access to the security cordon of President Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
Tema-Cartagena Shipping Link Also Questioned
The NPP has also raised concerns about the direct maritime shipping arrangement between the Port of Tema and the Port of Cartagena in Colombia, following negotiations between the two countries in March 2026.
Although the party insists it does not oppose legitimate international trade, it wants the government to disclose the security arrangements governing the route and all cargo transported under the agreement.
It is demanding the suspension of the arrangement until a comprehensive security assessment is completed and presented to Parliament.
The party has additionally called for the publication of all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025, including the identities and official positions of beneficiaries and the authorities responsible for approving them.
‘Ghana Cannot Become A Cocaine Coast’
Nana Boakye warned that the consequences of the growing drug trafficking concerns could extend beyond international embarrassment, pointing to the dangers of money laundering, corruption, illegal arms trafficking and organised criminal activities.
He cautioned that Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s most peaceful and stable democracies could suffer serious damage if the situation is not addressed.
The NPP insists that the Mahama administration must take responsibility for the security of the country under its watch rather than blame previous governments for the latest developments.
In a direct message to President Mahama, Nana Boakye declared:
“The President promised Ghanaians a 24-hour economy. He did not promise a 24-hour cocaine corridor.”
The party says it will continue to demand answers and accountability until government takes concrete action to address the recurring drug interceptions.
