{
  "id": 11385642,
  "title": "Leave Baffour Awuah alone and pursue the kingpins behind drug trade - Afenyo tells EOCO",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/leave-baffour-awuah-alone-and-pursue-the-kingpins-behind-drug-trade",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T07:32:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "3News",
    "slug": "3news",
    "url": "https://3news.com/news/leave-baffour-awuah-alone-and-pursue-the-kingpins-behind-drug-trade-afenyo-tells-eoco"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) must focus on apprehending the individuals behind the drug trade, according to Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. He emphasized that within 15 months, vast quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and charcoal were seized at various ports in Ghana, Australia, and the Netherlands. The calls for the EOCO to shift its attention towards pursuing the drug barons rather than targeting political opponents were made amidst the arrest of Manhyia South Member of Parliament Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah. Afenyo-Markin demanded the immediate release of Awuah and an end to the misuse of legal proceedings to intimidate political opponents. He stated that the public expects the government to prioritize fighting the drug trade, considering Ghana's role as a major transhipment hub for narcotics. He also expressed concern over the disproportionate focus on illegal mining, which he believes diverts resources away from addressing the environmental and social impacts of the practice.",
  "summary": "Ghanaians want to know: who are the financiers, organisers and beneficiaries? Where is the comparable zeal of our security agencies in pursuing them?",
  "key_points": [
    "EOCO should target drug barons, not political opponents",
    "15 months saw large amounts of drugs seized in Ghana, Australia, Netherlands",
    "Calls for release of Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah and end to intimidation"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Baffour Awuah granted GH¢50m bail after EOCO detention",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/baffour-awuah-granted-gh-50m-bail-after-eoco-detention",
        "published": "2026-10-02T07:08:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}