The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is calling for heads of key state institutions to be removed over their handling of recent narcotics cases in Ghana.
The party wants the heads of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), as well as the Commissioner-General of the Customs Division and the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), removed from office.
The NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, made the demand at a press conference on Tuesday, September 22, where he also called for the establishment of a bipartisan parliamentary committee to investigate 12 narcotics-related cases recorded between 2025 and September 2026.
According to Mr Boakye, the estimated street value of the narcotics intercepted in the cases exceeds US$1 billion, raising concerns about the effectiveness of institutions tasked with preventing and detecting drug trafficking.
He accused officials responsible for the affected institutions of failing to adequately perform their duties and called for accountability.
“They have relaxed on their duties. They must be sacked. Yet the President calls for a meeting. Nothing happens. We voted for leadership, not weak leadership,” he said.
Mr Boakye specifically called for the removal of the heads of several institutions, including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Shippers’ Authority and NACOC.
“The Director General, Ghana Ports and Habour Authority, he must be sacked. The Director General, Ghana Maritime Authority, this person must be fired. The Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Shippers Authority. This person must go. The Director General, Nacortics Control Commission and the deputies, they must all go.
“National Security Coordinator, Director General, National Intelligence Bureau. The Managing Director, Ghana Airport Company Limited. The Commissioner General, Customs Division and the CID Boss, she has really displayed incompetence, all of them must be sacked.”
He also criticised the government’s handling of the recent cases, arguing that President John Dramani Mahama’s call for tougher measures had not resulted in the removal of officials he believes should be held responsible.
“What His Excellency the President is exhibiting is weak leadership,” Mr Boakye said.
“His Excellency the President spoke tough. He was going to crack the whip. Today, he cannot crack the whip. He is rather pampering the activities of illicit drugs,” he added.
Cocaine Shipment
The NPP’s demands follow growing concerns over the use of Ghana as a transit point for narcotics trafficking.
The concerns intensified after French authorities seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine from a container that originated from Ghana.
Four people have since been charged in Ghana in connection with the shipment, while six others, including four Customs officers, have also been arraigned over the case.
In response, President Mahama directed an inter-agency task force to review Ghana’s existing systems for detecting and preventing drug trafficking through the country’s borders.
The task force has been given two weeks to submit a roadmap outlining measures to strengthen the system.
The President has also directed that NACOC be reinstated in joint container inspection operations at the ports.
The NPP says the measures should be accompanied by an independent bipartisan parliamentary investigation into the 12 narcotics-related cases and accountability for officials responsible for the institutions involved.
