Minority demands Mahama take responsibility for drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders

The Minority in Parliament has called on President John Dramani Mahama to take responsibility for what it describes as failures to protect Ghana's borders against drug trafficking, warning that repeated international narcotics seizures linked to the country are damaging its reputation.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said ongoing criminal prosecutions should not prevent the government from investigating possible institutional and supervisory failures within the country's security system.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of Parliament's resumption on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, he argued that the President had a responsibility to ensure the country's borders were secured and should account for the performance of the institutions mandated to do so.

“An arrest is not a conviction. Equally, a pending criminal trial does not suspend administrative accountability as explained supra. The government can investigate supervisory failures and take lawful disciplinary action without prejudicing anyone's guilt. Our president has a responsibility for securing Ghana's borders, and he must answer for its poor performance so far,” he said.

The Minority Leader acknowledged that drug trafficking was not exclusive to the current administration, but said previous incidents could not be used to excuse present security concerns.

“Ghana was not completely free of drug smuggling under previous governments, and we concede. We make no such claim, but the history offers no excuse for present failures. The Ghana handed over to this administration came with the duty to protect its institutions, its people, and its international standing,” he said.

He said the succession of major drug seizures involving consignments reportedly linked to Ghana raised questions about the effectiveness of the country's border protection systems.

Afenyo-Markin referred to the interception of approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk in France on September 7, 2026.

The cocaine, valued at approximately €225 million, was reportedly concealed in a consignment of plastic waste shipped from Ghana.

He also cited seizures in Amsterdam, Antwerp and Sydney, alongside suspected cocaine interceptions within Ghana, including incidents in the Tema Harbour enclave and at Pedu Junction.

According to him, the incidents raise concerns about port security arrangements, cargo inspection procedures, customs controls and intelligence coordination.

“These developments raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of our port security arrangements, cargo inspection procedures, customs controls, intelligence coordination, and the broader institutional framework for combating transnational organised crime,” he said.

The Minority Leader said the implications of the seizures went beyond individual drug interceptions and criminal investigations.

He argued that repeated incidents could undermine confidence in Ghana's national security arrangements and international trade systems.

“The implications extend beyond the individual seizures. They concern the integrity of our national security arrangements, the credibility of our international trade systems, and Ghana's reputation in the global fight against narcotic trafficking,” he said.

The Minority has filed a motion seeking a review of Speaker Alban Bagbin's ruling that declared inadmissible its proposed parliamentary inquiry into drug trafficking through Ghana.

On September 29, 2026, the Speaker ruled that the proposed inquiry could prejudice ongoing criminal proceedings involving approximately 21 persons in four separate narcotics-related cases.

The Minority maintains that the proposed inquiry would examine institutional and regulatory weaknesses without interfering with the determination of criminal cases.

The motion for review is expected to be considered as Parliament resumes sitting.