Franklin Cudjoe Calls Cocaine Trafficking Cases In Ghana A National Disaster, Demands Independent Probe
Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has described the growing number of cocaine trafficking cases associated with Ghana as a national disaster and a disgrace, calling for an independent parliamentary investigation into the incidents.
He has also urged President John Dramani Mahama to take immediate action against officials who may be found responsible, saying the repeated interceptions have raised concerns about the country’s security systems and its ability to prevent international drug trafficking.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, November 12, Cudjoe said the developments could damage Ghana’s reputation and questioned the effectiveness of institutions tasked with securing the country’s borders.
“Now the Cocaine matter has become a national disaster, disgraceful and the whole country has become a crime scene. PARLIAMENT MUST BE ALLOWED FOR INDEPENDENT ENQUIRY. MEANWHILE HEADS MUST ROLL FROM THE TOP NOW MR PRESIDENT.”
His comments come amid a series of major drug interceptions linked to Ghana between 2025 and 2026, involving large quantities of suspected cocaine seized both locally and in other countries.
On March 4, 2025, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) intercepted a tipper truck at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast after receiving intelligence. The vehicle was carrying more than 3.3 tonnes of cocaine hidden beneath sand.
The consignment was reportedly being transported from Takoradi to Accra and was estimated to have a street value of more than US$350 million.
In another incident, security authorities intercepted about 120 slabs of cocaine, valued at approximately US$150 million, along the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway. The seizure further raised questions about the operations of suspected drug trafficking networks in the country.
Ghana was also linked to major cocaine interceptions overseas. In June 2025, Dutch customs officials seized about 4.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a timber shipment from Tema at the Port of Amsterdam.
In November of the same year, Belgian authorities intercepted another consignment of approximately 2,829 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in cassava flour exported from Tema.
The incidents continued in 2026. In August, authorities intercepted 866 parcels of suspected cocaine hidden in sacks of gari at Tema Harbour, raising further concerns about the possible use of ordinary export goods to transport illegal drugs.
On September 10, 2026, French customs officials seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine from a container carrying plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana. The interception took place at the Port of Dunkirk, with the consignment estimated to be worth about €225 million, or approximately US$261 million.
On October 31, 2026, a Syrian national was arrested at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, after arriving from Accra with suspected cocaine concealed in two pieces of luggage.
The latest incident was announced by Spanish authorities on Wednesday, November 12, who reported the seizure of 2.6 tonnes of cocaine shipped from Tema Port.
