Newsfile to discuss Traffitech-GH fines, drug busts and Parliament’s continued absence of Asante Akyem North MP

Newsfile on JoyNews will explore three pressing issues in Ghana's public discourse during its Saturday, November 7, 2026, program. Host Samson Lardy Anyenini will lead discussions on road safety, drug trafficking, and the absence of Asante Akyem North MP from Parliament.

The program will scrutinize the implementation of the Traffitech-GH system, which became operational on November 1, 2026. The automated traffic enforcement system aims to strengthen compliance with road regulations, but commercial transport operators criticize the government's focus on fines while neglecting issues like occupied bus stops and obstructed pedestrian walkways.

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has also expressed concerns over faulty traffic lights, missing road signs, and faded road markings, warning that these could undermine the system's effectiveness.

Additionally, the program will investigate the surge in drug seizures linked to Ghana, specifically the 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine seized at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport. The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) defended its decision to allow a suspected trafficker to travel to Lebanon as part of a controlled-delivery operation to identify and arrest other members of an international trafficking network. Three foreign nationals were subsequently arrested in connection with the shipment.

Moreover, the Minority in Parliament has called for accountability from President John Mahama over border protection failures and demanded a parliamentary inquiry into major drug seizures. Concerns have arisen regarding port security, intelligence coordination, and possible institutional weaknesses. Newsfile will delve into whether these seizures reflect shortcomings in Ghana's border controls or are part of coordinated operations to dismantle international drug trafficking networks.

Another crucial issue will be Parliament's resumption for the third meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament without Asante Akyem North MP Ohene Kwame Frimpong, who remains in custody in the Netherlands. Frimpong was arrested in May 2026 at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport in connection with allegations involving romance scams and money laundering.

Two bail applications have failed, with his extradition hearing scheduled for November 18, 2026. The program will examine the legal and constitutional implications of his continued absence, including the potential impact on parliamentary representation in Asante Akyem North.