International community seeing Ghana as ‘cocaine coast’ – NPP legal team member

The international community is perceiving Ghana as a "cocaine coast" due to the country's increasing association with cocaine trafficking, according to Enoch Anhwere Afoakwa, a member of the NPP Legal Team. This perception stems from the recent seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of suspected cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk by French customs, valued at approximately €225 million. The consignment was concealed in a container carrying plastic waste that had originally departed from Ghana.

Afoakwa expressed concern over the growing number of cocaine-related incidents and seizures, stating that the international community is beginning to view Ghana as a major transit point for illicit drugs. He emphasized that this change in perception could have serious repercussions for Ghana's international reputation, going from being known as the "Gold Coast" to being referred to as a "cocaine coast."

The legal practitioner questioned the effectiveness of current anti-drug enforcement measures in Ghana's ports and other points of entry, particularly in the wake of recent cocaine seizures linked to the country. He also raised concerns about the accountability of officials responsible for overseeing port operations, suggesting that investigations should extend beyond the arrest of individuals directly involved in seized consignments.

Afoakwa criticized what he described as a "low-hanging fruits" approach to drug control, advocating for a more comprehensive investigation into those who facilitate or supervise the movement of illicit consignments. He called for a thorough examination of Ghana's port security and drug-control systems to identify any vulnerabilities that could be exploited by international trafficking networks.