Former government official Dennis Miracles Aboagye has questioned what he describes as a worrying surge in cocaine and illicit drug trafficking in Ghana, while accusing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of attempting to shift blame for the situation onto a 2018 Cabinet decision.
In a social media post, Mr Aboagye said the recent drug-related incidents raise serious questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s systems for preventing narcotics trafficking.
“The fundamental question is, why have we suddenly seen a surge in cocaine and illicit drug trade in Ghana?” he asked.
His comments follow attempts by the NDC, including National Communications Officer Sammy Gyamfi, to link current concerns over cocaine trafficking to a 2018 Cabinet decision that streamlined inspection procedures at Ghana’s ports.
Mr Aboagye described the argument as “disingenuous” and accused the NDC of selectively interpreting the facts.
He cited a 2020 cocaine interception involving Global Cargo and Commodities Ltd and the Mediterranean Shipping Company vessel MV MSC Monterey, arguing that the case demonstrated that the National Security Council (NSC) and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) remained actively involved in port surveillance and narcotics detection after the 2018 decision.
According to him, the 2020 operation involved surveillance of a container carrying a shipment of sugar from Brazil, leading to the discovery of a substance suspected to be cocaine.
Mr Aboagye argued that the incident contradicts claims that the 2018 Cabinet directive effectively compromised narcotics enforcement at Ghana’s ports.
He said the focus should instead be on identifying operational gaps, improving intelligence gathering and strengthening coordination among security agencies.
He further questioned the government’s handling of marine surveillance, asking why, according to him, an alleged attempt by the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration to acquire two additional vessels for the Ghana Navy was not pursued.
Mr Aboagye warned that the growing concerns over drug trafficking could damage Ghana’s international reputation and affect travellers, tourism and businesses.
“Government should sit up, stop the excuses and address this international shame which puts every Ghanaian at risk, travellers, our tourism and our businesses, all at risk,” he said.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Mavis Fantevi
