Party calls for independent investigations, parliamentary inquiry and accountability following latest international drug interception

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has renewed its call for urgent government action to address the growing number of international cocaine interceptions linked to Ghana, following the arrest of a Syrian national in Beirut with 46.7 kilograms of cocaine after travelling from Accra.

Addressing a press conference at the Party’s National Headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the NPP’s Second National Vice Chairman, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, expressed concern over what the Party described as a worrying pattern of drug trafficking incidents involving Ghanaian ports and airports.

Speaking under the theme, “From Dunkirk to Beirut: Ghana Cannot Wait Any Longer,” Nana Boakye said the latest interception had raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s border security systems and the government’s response to international drug trafficking networks.

NPP Cites 14 Major Drug Interceptions

According to the NPP, Ghana recorded no fewer than 14 major cocaine and drug interceptions between March 2025 and October 2026, with seven of the incidents occurring on Ghanaian soil.

The Party further cited major cocaine seizures at international destinations, including Amsterdam, Antwerp, Dunkirk and Beirut, involving consignments it says originated from Ghana.

Among the incidents highlighted were the seizure of nearly 4,500 kilograms of cocaine at the Port of Amsterdam in June 2025, 2,829 kilograms at Antwerp in November 2025, another 1,158 kilograms at the same port in December 2025, and approximately 3.9 tonnes at the Port of Dunkirk in September 2026.

The latest incident occurred on October 31, 2026, when Lebanese authorities reportedly intercepted 46.7 kilograms of cocaine concealed in two suitcases belonging to a Syrian passenger who had arrived in Beirut from Accra.

The NPP warned that repeated interceptions of this nature could undermine Ghana’s international reputation, weaken confidence in its security institutions and expose the country to the wider consequences of organised criminal activity.

Questions Over NACOC’s Controlled Delivery Explanation

A significant part of the press conference focused on the Narcotics Control Commission’s explanation that the cocaine shipment was allowed to leave Ghana as part of a controlled delivery operation conducted in collaboration with Lebanese authorities.

The NPP questioned the explanation and demanded clarity on the identities and status of persons reportedly arrested in Ghana in connection with the Beirut incident.

The Party also raised questions about the alleged involvement of airport personnel, reports of possible bribery and differences between figures and timelines communicated by Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities.

Nana Boakye insisted that government must provide a clear account of the operation, including the nature of Ghana’s cooperation with Lebanon and the progress of investigations.

The NPP called for the publication of the names, nationalities and charges of persons reportedly arrested in Ghana, together with confirmation from Lebanese authorities regarding the alleged controlled delivery arrangement.

NPP Questions Government’s Response to Previous Seizures

The Party also criticised what it described as the government’s failure to provide timely updates on measures announced following the September 2026 Dunkirk cocaine seizure.

According to the statement, President John Dramani Mahama had chaired an emergency security meeting on September 17 and directed an inter-agency task force to prepare a roadmap to address drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders within two weeks.

The NPP said the deadline expired on October 1 without the roadmap being made public.

It further questioned why, despite the reported deployment of additional screening measures at the Accra International Airport, another major cocaine interception involving a passenger travelling from Accra had occurred.

The Party is demanding that government publish the task force’s roadmap and provide regular updates on the implementation of measures intended to strengthen security at the country’s ports and airports.

Demands Accountability from Security Institutions

The NPP maintained that the recurring incidents require more than public statements and temporary security interventions.

It called for 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, alongside independent investigations into their respective tenures.

The Party also called for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry, with public hearings, into all Ghana-linked cocaine seizures recorded since January 2025.

Among other concerns, the NPP questioned the circumstances surrounding the case involving Musah Attah, popularly known as “Kromo,” who has been charged in connection with the Dunkirk cocaine seizure. The Party called for regular public updates on the prosecution and an explanation of how he allegedly gained access to the security cordon around the President and Vice President.

Calls for Transparency Over Diplomatic Passports and Shipping Arrangement

The press conference also revisited the Party’s demand for greater transparency in the issuance of diplomatic and service passports.

The NPP called on government to publish details of all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025, including the positions that qualified the holders and the authorities responsible for approving them. It further demanded the cancellation of passports found to have been improperly issued.

The Party also raised concerns about the direct maritime shipping arrangement between the Port of Tema and Colombia’s Port of Cartagena.

While stating that it does not oppose trade with friendly countries, the NPP called for full disclosure of cargo transported through the route and additional security information. It further demanded that the arrangement be suspended until a comprehensive security review is completed and presented to Parliament.

Nine Demands Presented to Government

At the end of the press conference, the NPP outlined nine demands to the Mahama-led administration:

1. Establish a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry with public hearings into all Ghana-linked cocaine seizures recorded since January 2025.
2. Publish the inter-agency task force roadmap on combating drug trafficking within seven days.
3. Produce a joint statement with Lebanese authorities clarifying Ghana’s role in the Beirut operation.
4. Publish the identities, nationalities and charges of all persons reportedly arrested in Ghana in connection with the Beirut seizure and ensure they are brought before a court.
5. Investigate and prosecute any officials found to have accepted bribes to facilitate the movement of the cocaine through the Accra International Airport.
6. Remove the heads of NACOC, GACL, GPHA and National Security and subject their tenures to independent investigations.
7. Provide regular updates on the prosecution of Musah Attah and his co-accused, including an explanation of his reported access to the presidential security cordon.
8. Publish all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025 and cancel those found to have been improperly issued.
9. Suspend the Tema–Cartagena direct shipping arrangement pending a comprehensive security review and disclosure of cargo transported through the route.

“Ghana Cannot Wait Any Longer”

The NPP concluded by warning that the growing number of drug interceptions linked to Ghana poses a serious threat to national security, the country’s international standing and the integrity of its public institutions.

Nana Boakye urged President Mahama to demonstrate decisive leadership and ensure that all persons and institutions found culpable are held accountable.

The Party stressed that the fight against narcotics trafficking must be treated as a national security priority, requiring transparency, effective enforcement and strong institutional oversight.

The NPP maintains that protecting Ghana’s reputation and securing its borders must take precedence over political considerations, and has called on government to act before another international drug interception further damages the country’s image.

#WeAreNPP #GhanaCannotWait #Accountability #NationalSecurity #DrugTrafficking