{
  "id": 8079369,
  "title": "Mahama Orders Probe Into Drug Trafficking Through Ghana’s Ports",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/mahama-orders-probe-into-drug-trafficking-through-ghanas-ports",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-17T18:42:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/mahama-orders-probe-into-drug-trafficking-through-ghanas-ports/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President John Dramani Mahama has mandated the establishment of an inter-agency task force to devise a thorough plan aimed at curbing narcotics trafficking through Ghana's borders. This directive emerged from a critical meeting with the nation's security leaders to assess recent instances of drug trafficking through Ghana's ports. A spokesperson for the President and the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, conveyed that the President was briefed on the ongoing investigations into the recent narcotics trafficking incidents involving Ghana's ports. The report noted that ten individuals, comprising four officers from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), were under arrest in connection with these investigations. The meeting convened by President Mahama, chaired by himself, also scrutinized the current infrastructure and security protocols at Ghana's ports and borders, subsequently proposing additional measures to bolster the fight against narcotics trafficking. In response to these concerns, President Mahama tasked the inter-agency task force with delivering a comprehensive roadmap detailing preventive strategies within a fortnight. This move comes at a time when Ghana's involvement in international narcotics trafficking has drawn increased scrutiny following the seizure of drugs linked to shipments that originated from Ghana, including methamphetamine in Australia and cocaine in Dunkirk, northern France. These events have sparked renewed concerns about Ghana and other West African nations being utilized as conduits for narcotics headed towards Europe, Australia, and other global destinations. The government's renewed emphasis on enhancing security measures at Ghana's ports and borders, along with fostering better collaboration among agencies tasked with combating drug trafficking, underscores their commitment to addressing this critical issue. The specific identities of those detained and the exact charges against them remain undisclosed, with ongoing investigations continuing under the supervision of the authorities.",
  "summary": "President John Dramani Mahama has directed the formation of an inter-agency task force to develop a comprehensive roadmap to prevent the trafficking of narcotics through Ghana’s borders. The directive followed an urgent meeting with the country’s security chiefs to review recent cases involving the trafficking of drugs through Ghana’s ports. A statement issued by the […] The post Mahama Orders…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "10 people, including 4 Customs officers held as Ghana probes drug trafficking through ports",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/10-people-including-4-customs-officers-held-as-ghana-probes-drug",
        "published": "2026-09-17T17:50:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}