The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of showing weak leadership in the way his government is handling recent drug trafficking cases linked to Ghana.
Nana Boakye is calling for the dismissal of officials he believes should be held responsible for what he described as failures within Ghana’s drug control and security system.
He made the comments at an NPP press conference on drug trafficking, where he criticised President Mahama’s decision to hold a meeting at the Jubilee House and instruct security agencies to strengthen their operations.
According to Nana Boakye, the situation requires more than meetings and directives. He believes officials responsible for the alleged failures should be removed from office.
“They have relaxed on their duties. They must be sacked. Yet the president calls for a meeting. Nothing happens. We voted for leadership, not weak leadership,” he said.
Nana Boakye said about nine officials should have been removed from their positions. He argued that the cases involved actual arrests, seizures and international interceptions, rather than mere allegations.
“What His Excellency the president is exhibiting is weak leadership,” he said.
“His Excellency the President spoke tough. He was going to crack the whip. Today, he cannot crack the whip. He is rather pampering the activities of illicit drugs.”
He said several recent drug-related incidents raised serious questions about Ghana’s ability to prevent the trafficking of illegal drugs through the country.
One of the cases he mentioned was the reported interception of a tipper truck at Pedu Junction in Cape Coast on March 4, 2025.
The truck was allegedly carrying more than 3.3 tonnes of cocaine hidden under heaps of sand while travelling from the Western Region towards Accra.
Nana Boakye estimated the street value of the consignment at about $350 million.
He also mentioned another reported interception on the Takoradi-Cape Coast highway in March 2025. According to him, that truck was carrying about 120 slabs of cocaine, with an estimated value of $150 million.
He said the two cases amounted to about 4.5 tonnes of cocaine intercepted during the period.
Nana Boakye described the reported seizures as a serious concern for Ghana’s security and its reputation internationally.
He also brought up the controversy surrounding two aircraft that landed at Kotoka International Airport in March 2025.
He referred to earlier allegations raised by the NPP Minority in Parliament involving Air Med Flight N823AM and a Cavok Air Antonov 12B.
The Minority, led on the issue by Assin South MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, had questioned what the aircraft were carrying and called for investigations into their cargo.
The government, however, rejected the allegations. Government Communications officials said the aircraft had legitimate reasons for being in Ghana and that security checks found no illegal items on board.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) also stated that security checks carried out on the aircraft did not detect any illicit substances.
Despite this, Nana Boakye accused the government of trying to silence the Minority after the allegations were raised.
“In fact, they dispatched national security operatives to go and arrest Honourable Ntim Fordjour. An MP who blew the whistle,” he said.
The claim that there was an attempt to arrest the MP has been disputed and remains an allegation by the NPP. It should therefore not be treated as an established fact.
Nana Boakye’s comments have added fresh political pressure on the government over Ghana’s response to drug trafficking and the work of agencies responsible for preventing the country from being used as a route for illegal drugs.
President Mahama had earlier directed relevant security and investigative agencies, including NACOC, the Police Criminal Investigations Department, the National Investigations Bureau and the National Security Coordinator, to work with Rev. Ntim Fordjour to investigate the aircraft allegations.
The NPP National Organiser is now calling for officials within the security and drug-interdiction system to be held accountable for what he describes as failures in carrying out their duties.
