{
  "id": 7172773,
  "title": "Minority demands full-scale probe into Ghana’s alleged emergence as narcotics transit hub",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/minority-demands-full-scale-probe-into-ghanas-alleged-emergence-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-13T20:42:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/minority-demands-full-scale-probe-into-ghanas-alleged-emergence-as-narcotics-transit-hub/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Minority in Ghana's Parliament has called for a comprehensive, independent inquiry into allegations that Ghana has become a major narcotics transit hub. According to the Minority, Ghana has been implicated in significant narcotics trafficking cases over the past 18 months, both within the country and abroad. In a statement led by the Ranking Member for Defence and Interior, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, the Minority highlighted several high-profile narcotics seizures linked to Ghana under the current administration, with total seized amounts exceeding US$1 billion.\n\nThe Minority provided details of several seizures that occurred in 2025 and early 2026. On March 4, 2025, the National Intelligence Bureau intercepted a tipper truck at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast carrying over 3.3 tonnes of cocaine hidden beneath sand, en route from Takoradi to Accra with an estimated street value of more than US$350 million. Another seizure on August 5, 2026, involved 866 parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in sacks of gari within Tema Harbour, valued at approximately US$6.9 million. The Minority also raised concerns over two unresolved incidents: the landing at Kotoka International Airport in March 2025 of aircraft allegedly carrying narcotics and undeclared US currency from Gran Canaria, and the release of a vessel, the MV Sankofa, from Senegal in July 2025, after paying only a fraction of a nearly GH¢12 million fine, despite being accused of carrying narcotics.\n\nThe Minority questioned the progress of investigations into the local seizures, particularly the Pedu Junction case, noting that more than a year after the interception, only the truck driver, a housemaid, and a few others have been arraigned and remain on bail, while the alleged financiers and high-profile dealers remain unidentified and unpunished. They also criticized the lack of transparency from key agencies such as Ghana's port authorities, NACOC, and the Ghana Maritime Authority, who have not provided public accounts or explanations for decisions regarding the MV Sankofa incident. The Minority is demanding that sector ministers and heads of relevant agencies appear before Parliament to provide answers on the status of the investigations, the lack of prosecution targeting high-level individuals, and measures being taken to secure Ghana's borders against international drug cartels. They emphasized that the country's international reputation and efforts to combat narcotics abuse cannot be compromised by official silence or political expediency.",
  "summary": "The Minority in Parliament is demanding a full-scale, independent parliamentary inquiry into what it describes as Ghana’s emergence as a narcotics transit hub.",
  "key_points": [
    "Minority Parliament demands full-scale, independent narcotics investigation",
    "Over $1 billion worth of narcotics seized in Ghana since 2025",
    "Criticism of lack of prosecution, transparency in border security"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "Ghana’s narcotics crisis deepens as drug seizures linked to country top US$1bn – Minority",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/ghanas-narcotics-crisis-deepens-as-drug-seizures-linked-to-country",
        "published": "2026-09-13T20:55:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}