{
  "id": 9162265,
  "title": "Government must answer how 80 bags of cocaine passed through Ghana’s ports – Miracles Aboagye",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/government-must-answer-how-80-bags-of-cocaine-passed-through-ghanas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T16:34:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/government-must-answer-how-80-bags-of-cocaine-passed-through-ghanas-ports-miracles-aboagye/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aspirant for the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Director of Communications, has called on the government to explain how substantial amounts of cocaine managed to bypass Ghana's port security measures. Speaking on JoyNews' The Pulse, Aboagye stated that the numerous drug seizures linked to Ghana over the past year warrant serious scrutiny of the country's security protocols.\n\nAboagye highlighted the fact that there have been twelve major drug busts in the last 18 months under the current administration. He questioned how such a large quantity of cocaine, roughly equivalent to 80 bags of cement, could be smuggled through the country's ports undetected. \"We're talking about twelve significant drug busts in the last 18 months with this government. The crucial question still remains unanswered: how did anyone manage to transport such a massive amount of cocaine, comparable to 80 bags of cement, through our ports without anyone noticing?\" Aboagye inquired.\n\nHis remarks come in the wake of a significant cocaine seizure at the Port of Dunkirk in France in September 2026, where nearly 3.9 tonnes of the drug, estimated to be worth €225 million, were discovered concealed within a container that was originally filled with plastic waste and had originated from Ghana. The Narcotics Control Commission subsequently apprehended three individuals in connection with this incident. This was followed by the seizure of 866 parcels suspected to contain cocaine at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave on August 5, 2026, with an estimated value of $6.9 million. These drugs were reportedly concealed within sacks of gari.\n\nMr. Aboagye emphasized that several of the major drug busts were intercepted outside Ghana, having passed through the country's ports. He pointed out that many of these significant drug hauls were seized overseas after having traveled through Ghanaian ports. The aspirant of the NPP urged the government to provide answers to these questions instead of merely attributing similar incidents to previous administrations. \"If you cannot answer that question, and your response is that a certain government that has left and has been voted out did the same, then what should we make of this information?\" Aboagye questioned.\n\nHe warned that if the government fails to address this issue, it could negatively impact Ghana's international reputation and the treatment of Ghanaian travelers. \"If we do not address this matter, individuals traveling with Ghanaian passports may face extended delays at airports such as Heathrow or Paris,\" Aboagye cautioned.",
  "summary": "The Director of Communications aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has challenged the government to explain how large quantities of cocaine were able to pass through Ghana’s ports without detection.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "Parliament must reconvene to probe cocaine cases - Miracles Aboagye",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/parliament-must-reconvene-to-probe-cocaine-cases-miracles-aboagye",
        "published": "2026-09-22T16:36:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}