Managing Editor of the Herald Newspaper, Larry Dogbey, has called for a full explanation of why personnel of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) were excluded from physical container inspections at Ghana’s ports.
He said the circumstances surrounding the decision must be investigated, particularly in the wake of the seizure of a major cocaine shipment that originated from Ghana.
Speaking during a panel discussion on Saturday, September 19, 2026, Mr Dogbey questioned who authorised the change and what informed the decision.
He argued that the issue should not be ignored, stressing the need for authorities to account for how the country’s port security arrangements were altered.
Mr Dogbey suggested that a parliamentary inquiry could help establish the facts, saying officials involved in making or implementing the decision could be invited to explain their actions.
He, however, cautioned against allowing the controversy to become a political battle.
According to him, the priority should be to determine how cocaine consignments were able to pass through Ghana’s port systems and eventually reach their destination.
His comments come after French customs authorities intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine valued at about €225 million in a container carrying plastic waste.
The container reportedly arrived at the Port of Dunkirk from Ghana on September 10.
Six people have been arraigned before the Kwabenya Circuit Court in connection with the shipment and remanded until September 24. Four of the accused persons are officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s Customs Division.
The prosecution alleges that the containers were scanned and the images showed abnormalities, but the shipment was nevertheless cleared for export.
Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has meanwhile clarified that NACOC officers were not withdrawn from Tema Port under the previous administration.
He said they remained at the port but were no longer involved in physical container inspections following port reforms introduced in 2018.
President John Dramani Mahama has since directed that NACOC be reinstated in the joint physical inspection of containers and asked security and regulatory agencies to develop a framework to harmonise their operations.
