Sammi Awuku, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, has called for urgent government action after a series of large narcotics seizures linked to consignments from Ghana. He warned that the scale of the recent seizures demands a serious examination of Ghana’s security and enforcement systems.
In a Facebook post on Friday, September 18, 2026, Mr Awuku said, “Ghana is facing growing concerns over its role in the trafficking of illicit drugs.” His remarks follow the seizure by French customs authorities on September 10 of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk from a container of plastic waste that had departed Ghana. The cocaine was valued by French authorities at about €225 million.
Six people were denied bail by the Kwabenya Circuit Court on September 17 in connection with the alleged export of the consignment, while investigations continue. Four of the six are linked to the Ghana Revenue Authority and face allegations concerning the Customs scanning process at Tema Port. Ten people, including four Customs Division officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority, are currently being held as investigations continue.
Mr Awuku’s comments have prompted calls from the Minority in Parliament for an independent inquiry into recent narcotics seizures linked to Ghana. He had earlier questioned the exclusion of the Ministers for the Interior and Transport from a high‑level meeting convened by President John Dramani Mahama to review Ghana’s border‑control systems and measures to combat narcotics trafficking. The government subsequently revised the invitation list to include the two ministers following the concerns he raised.
President Mahama has since directed the formation of an inter‑agency task force to develop a detailed roadmap to prevent drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders. The task force has been given two weeks to submit its recommendations.
In his latest post, Mr Awuku said the developments pointed to a wider problem that requires greater urgency from government. “These are not isolated inconveniences,” he wrote. “They touch on the security, dignity, livelihoods, institutions and future of ordinary Ghanaians.” He called for greater accountability and warned against becoming accustomed to troubling developments. “Ghana cannot afford to normalise this. We must wake up. We must demand accountability and we must take the future of this country seriously,” he said.
