The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a travel advisory for its members, supporters and sympathisers travelling through Ghana’s airports and seaports, warning of alleged attempts to plant cocaine in their luggage. The advisory, signed by National Vice Chairman Henry Nana Boakye – known as Nana B – claims that elements affiliated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) may try to introduce prohibited substances into NPP travellers’ belongings for political reasons.
Boakye said the NDC government, under President John Mahama, has become “desperate” amid growing scrutiny of its handling of narcotics matters and may go to any lengths to implicate innocent NPP supporters. The warning follows a series of major drug seizures overseas involving consignments traced to Ghana, most recently when Spanish authorities seized 2.6 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of coconuts from Ghana on 11 November.
The NPP advisory recommends several precautionary measures: securely lock and wrap luggage, maintain personal control over belongings, avoid accepting unverified parcels, record videos of luggage handling, inspect bags before check‑in and after boarding, and report any suspicious incidents to airport security or appropriate authorities. The party also urged travellers to retain luggage tags and other travel documents as evidence.
Boakye’s statement did not provide evidence to support the claim of drug planting. The advisory ends with a call to stay alert, remain vigilant and travel responsibly.
Observers note that the warning comes amid heightened international attention to Ghana’s export and cargo‑screening processes, following the recent seizure of cocaine in Spain. The NPP’s message is a political response to alleged attempts by the ruling party to tarnish its opponents, but the lack of corroborating evidence means the claim remains unverified.
