Drugs cases disgracing Ghana before the world – Catholic Bishops Conference tells Government

The Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC) of Ghana has expressed deep concern over Ghana's deteriorating image due to increasing drug trafficking activities. In a stern press release on September 21, 2026, the Bishops lamented that Ghana's international reputation is being tarnished by the country's alleged role as a drugs transit point.

The most recent incident that sparked this condemnation was the seizure of 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs in Dunkirk on September 10, 2026, concealed in a container of plastic waste from Ghana. Four Ghanaians have been charged in Accra High Court, while Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers remains at large.

The Bishops emphasized that while the accused are presumed innocent, the sheer volume of drugs seized has placed Ghana in the world's spotlight for the wrong reasons, causing significant national embarrassment. They cited a memorandum from over 40 MPs requesting a parliamentary recall, detailing a series of drug busts in Ghana:

- 3.3 tonnes of cocaine found hidden under sand in a tipper truck at Pedu Junction, Cape Coast

- Multiple cocaine seizures on the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway

- Hundreds of cocaine packages concealed in sacks of gari at Tema Harbour

- Suspicious flight from Gran Canaria with narcotics and cash

- Methamphetamine hidden in charcoal intercepted in Australia

- A vessel released in Ghana after a partial fine, then seized abroad with drugs

The Bishops questioned why such large quantities manage to evade detection at Ghana's ports and borders, who finances these operations, and why prosecutions persist despite the scale of the problem. They accused the state of complicity in drug trafficking, citing the arrest of nine public officials at Tema Port in March 2026 for undeclared tramadol, and expressing frustration over the lack of arrests of financiers despite the 3.3-tonne seizure at Pedu Junction remaining unpunished.

The Bishops urged the government to treat the drug issue as an existential threat, demanding immediate action such as audits of security measures at major ports, thorough investigations and prosecution of officials, freezing assets and dismantling drug networks, and prompt, transparent prosecutions. They also endorsed the MPs' proposal to recall Parliament to hold government ministers accountable for the ongoing drug crisis.

The Bishops' statement, issued by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, emphasized that drug trafficking is not only a criminal act but also a moral evil that damages Ghana's soul.