The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the government of failing to tackle the growing threat of international drug trafficking, following the seizure of 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine from a passenger who travelled from Ghana to Lebanon.
Addressing a press conference 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, described the latest incident as evidence of a worrying pattern of drug trafficking involving Ghana.
The press conference, themed “From Dunkirk to Beirut: Ghana Cannot Wait Any Longer,” followed the arrest of a Syrian national at the Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut on Saturday, October 31.
Lebanese Customs and General Security reportedly arrested the suspect after he arrived from Accra on Middle East Airlines flight MEA 576, with 40 packages of cocaine weighing 46.7 kilogrammes concealed in two suitcases fitted with electronic tracking devices.
According to Nana Boakye, the seizure, which Lebanese authorities have described as the largest drug interception in the airport’s history, raises serious questions about security checks at the Accra International Airport and the effectiveness of Ghana’s anti-narcotics operations.
He argued that the incident occurred despite increased airport screening measures introduced by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) following President John Dramani Mahama’s emergency security meeting in September.
The NPP claimed that between March 2025 and October 2026, Ghana had recorded at least 14 major cocaine and drug seizures, with the estimated street value of cocaine intercepted abroad alone ranging between US$1.3 billion and US$1.7 billion.
The party cited major seizures at the ports of Amsterdam, Antwerp and Dunkirk, as well as the latest interception in Beirut.
Among the incidents highlighted was the seizure of nearly 4,500 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Port of Amsterdam in June 2025, followed by 2,829 kilogrammes at Antwerp in November 2025 and another 1,158 kilogrammes at the same port in December 2025.
It also recalled the September 2026 seizure of approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container declared as plastic waste at the Port of Dunkirk in France.
Nana Boakye said the repeated interceptions suggested that international drug cartels could be exploiting weaknesses in Ghana’s border security systems.
NPP questions NACOC’s controlled delivery explanation
A major concern raised by the opposition party was NACOC’s explanation that the cocaine shipment was allowed to leave Ghana as part of a coordinated “controlled delivery” operation with Lebanese authorities.
Nana Boakye questioned why the only publicly identified suspect initially reported to be in custody was the Syrian courier, despite the stated objective of a controlled delivery being to identify and apprehend the wider trafficking network.
He also questioned reports that three foreign nationals had subsequently been arrested in Ghana, arguing that government officials had provided contradictory accounts without disclosing the identities of the suspects.
The NPP further demanded clarification on why official Lebanese statements reportedly credited Lebanese Customs and General Security without mentioning NACOC or any Ghanaian agency.
It also cited reports by Lebanese broadcaster LBCI that the courier had allegedly paid bribes at the Accra airport to facilitate the passage of his luggage through check-in and security.
The party called on the government to identify and prosecute any officials found to have facilitated the shipment.
It also questioned discrepancies between the 46.7 kilogrammes reported by Lebanese authorities and NACOC’s reported figure of approximately 40 kilogrammes, as well as differences in the stated date of the arrest.
NPP demands dismissal of security agency heads
The opposition party accused the government of failing to hold officials accountable despite the repeated drug interceptions.
It specifically called for the immediate dismissal of the heads of NACOC, the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and National Security.
According to Nana Boakye, the continued presence of the heads of the institutions responsible for preventing drug trafficking raises concerns about government’s commitment to addressing the problem.
The party also demanded a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into all Ghana-linked cocaine seizures since January 2025.
Additionally, it called for the publication of the security task force roadmap President Mahama reportedly directed relevant agencies to produce within two weeks after an emergency security meeting on September 17.
The NPP said the deadline expired on October 1, but the document had not been made public as of November 4.
Kromo’s alleged links to presidential security
The party also raised questions about Musah Attah, popularly known as “Kromo”, one of the suspects charged in connection with the 3.9-tonne cocaine seizure at Dunkirk.
Nana Boakye challenged NACOC’s description of Attah as a farmer with no affiliation to the President’s security detail, citing photographs allegedly showing him within the security cordon of President Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
He demanded an explanation of how the accused allegedly gained access to the security circles of the country’s two highest officeholders.
The NPP further called for the publication of all diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025, including the positions held by beneficiaries and the authorities responsible for approving them.
It also demanded the suspension of the direct maritime shipping arrangement between the Port of Tema and Colombia’s Port of Cartagena until a comprehensive security review is conducted.
Nine demands presented to government
The NPP outlined nine demands, including a bipartisan parliamentary investigation into Ghana-linked drug seizures, publication of the overdue security task force roadmap and a joint statement from Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities clarifying the circumstances surrounding the Beirut operation.
The party also wants government to publish the identities and charges of persons reportedly arrested in Ghana over the latest bust, prosecute officials implicated in alleged bribery and provide regular updates on the trial of Musah Attah and his co-accused.
Other demands include the dismissal and independent investigation of the heads of the four security institutions, publication of diplomatic and service passports issued since January 2025, and suspension of the Tema–Cartagena shipping arrangement pending a security review.
Concluding his address, Nana Boakye accused President Mahama of failing to demonstrate the decisive leadership required to protect Ghana’s international reputation.
“The President promised Ghanaians a 24-hour economy. He did not promise a 24-hour cocaine corridor,” he said.
The NPP warned that the continued movement of illicit drugs through Ghana could expose the country to organised crime, money laundering, corruption and security threats, while damaging its reputation as one of Africa’s peaceful and stable democracies.
