{
  "id": 12675187,
  "title": "Cocaine seizures are hurting Ghana’s cocoa, cashew and timber exports – Afenyo-Markin",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/cocaine-seizures-are-hurting-ghanas-cocoa-cashew-and-timber-exports",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T17:42:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Adom Online",
    "slug": "adom-online",
    "url": "https://www.adomonline.com/cocaine-seizures-are-hurting-ghanas-cocoa-cashew-and-timber-exports-afenyo-markin/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused Ghana's government of employing state security forces against its political adversaries as drug trafficking in the nation escalates, alleging that honest exporters are the ones suffering the consequences. Addressing a launch event for the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, Afenyo-Markin highlighted Chapter 12 of the Constitution of 1992, which guarantees freedom and independence for the media, and emphasized the media's responsibility to scrutinize government actions. He reported that over the past year, Ghana experienced a concerning resurgence in drug trafficking and organized illicit trade, with 28 drug busts recorded, including 11 major cocaine cases. The remaining 17 cases involved cannabis, methamphetamine, heroin, and pharmaceutical opioids. The estimated street value of the seized cocaine was between US$1.3 billion and US$1.7 billion. Afenyo-Markin pointed out that Belgium's customs disclosures at the Antwerp port ranked Ghana fifth among countries of origin for drug trafficking. The repercussions are already evident, with Ghana's reputation being tarnished, and law-abiding exporters facing economic hardships. They now encounter rigorous questioning, delayed cargo deliveries, and hefty inspection fees at European and global ports, due to the elevated risk associated with Ghanaian exports. Afenyo-Markin criticized the government for avoiding these issues. He claimed that whenever minority caucus members or concerned citizens pushed for accountability over these security failures, the government resorted to a deliberate distraction to avoid public discourse. He cited the case of Salome Awuti Baffoe and Ghana Jollof as an example, suggesting that it was a government attempt to avoid responsibility after French authorities intercepted nearly four tons of cocaine in a container that originated from Ghana.",
  "summary": "Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has accused the government of using state security agencies against its political opponents while Ghana’s drug-trafficking problem grows, warning that the country’s honest exporters are the ones paying the price. Speaking at the launch of the 30th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Media Awards, he reminded the media that Chapter 12 of […]",
  "key_points": [
    "Ghana's government accused of using security forces against political opponents",
    "Cocaine seizures impact cocoa, cashew, timber exports",
    "Ghana ranked fifth in drug trafficking origin by Belgium's customs"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Afenyo-Markin accuses government of diverting attention from cocaine seizures linked to Ghana",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/afenyo-markin-accuses-government-of-diverting-attention-from-cocaine",
        "published": "2026-10-07T16:07:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Afenyo-Markin accuses government of diverting attention from Ghana’s drug trafficking concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/afenyo-markin-accuses-government-of-diverting-attention-from-ghanas",
        "published": "2026-10-07T17:49:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}