In January 2018, Ghana seized 56 kg of cocaine at the port, arresting six nationals. In June 2024, the National Narcotics and Crime Operations Centre (NACOC), working with the UK National Crime Agency, intercepted 166.88 kg of suspected cocaine at Kotoka International Airport, arresting two British citizens. These high‑profile cases demonstrate that Ghana’s enforcement agencies remain capable of detecting large consignments even after the 2018 paperless‑port reforms.
Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has clarified that NACOC was not abolished or removed from the ports; the reforms only altered how routine physical inspections were conducted, reducing the number of agencies required to inspect each container. The 2017 reforms introduced mandatory joint inspections and a risk‑based approach to focus resources on higher‑risk consignments, a change endorsed by the World Bank as a means to improve clearance efficiency.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, led by President John Mahama, has been urged to stop blaming the opposition for the current drug‑trafficking crisis and instead address present failures. Critics argue that the NDC should investigate whether port officials, security systems or politically connected individuals facilitated the movement of narcotics, rather than attributing the problem to the 2018 reforms.
Recent international cases, including a US$208 million Australian methamphetamine investigation, have prompted Ghanaian authorities to implicate individuals within the system. NACOC has announced arrests related to the case, underscoring the need for stronger intelligence sharing, effective port surveillance, competent investigations and prosecution regardless of political affiliation.
The government must decide whether the balance between efficiency and narcotics security needs adjustment. Restoring or strengthening NACOC’s role in routine inspections is a debate that should focus on today’s effectiveness, not on rewriting history. The central question remains: what went wrong, who was responsible, what has been fixed, and why should Ghanaians trust the system today?
As drug traffickers ignore party lines, the NDC must deliver concrete results, not partisan rhetoric, to protect Ghana’s borders and prosecute those who facilitate the trade.
