President Mahama Directs Narcotics Task Force as Minority Demands Parliamentary Recall Over 3.9-Tonne Cocaine Seizure

The seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk in France has triggered a high-stakes political confrontation in Ghana, as the shipment originated from a Ghanaian port. Valued at approximately €225 million ($260 million), the narcotics bust on September 10, 2026, represents one of the largest drug-related incidents linked to the country. In response, President John Dramani Mahama convened an emergency meeting with security chiefs and directed the formation of an inter-agency task force. This task force has been given a two-week deadline to develop a comprehensive roadmap to enhance border security and prevent future trafficking through Ghana’s ports and customs systems.

Despite the executive action, the Minority in Parliament, led by First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, has formally petitioned the Speaker to recall the House from recess for an extraordinary sitting. Invoking Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution with the support of more than 15% of the membership, the Minority argues that an executive-led investigation cannot substitute for the House's constitutional oversight. They are demanding a bipartisan inquiry into the roles of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. Iddrisu emphasized that the scale of the seizure, which followed a series of other high-profile drug incidents totaling over $1 billion in two years, necessitates public accountability for the officials on duty during the cargo's departure.

The demand for a recall has met stiff resistance from the Majority caucus. Deputy Majority Whip Richard Acheampong and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor have dismissed the petition as a "misplaced call," questioning the Minority’s investigative capacity and the financial burden of an extraordinary session. They argue that NACOC and the Police are already conducting professional investigations that a parallel parliamentary probe might undermine. Furthermore, the Majority maintains that the government is already taking proactive steps, as evidenced by the arrest of several suspects, including four Customs Division officers and GRA officials.

The case has also sparked a war of words regarding potential political links. Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, alleged that one of the suspects, Musah Attah, is a member of the security detail for President Mahama and Vice President Opoku-Agyemang. However, Minister of State Felix Kwakye Ofosu has categorically denied any evidence linking government officials or National Democratic Congress (NDC) members to the trafficking operation. He stated that while ten individuals are currently detained, none are government affiliates, and he warned against political speculation while security agencies work to identify the masterminds behind the shipment.

As the nation awaits the Speaker's decision on the recall, the broader security implications remain a focal point. Sammi Awuku, the MP for Akuapem North, has warned that the frequency of such seizures indicates a systemic vulnerability that threatens Ghana's international reputation and national security. The upcoming report from the President’s task force is expected to address these vulnerabilities, even as the Minority insists that only a transparent parliamentary inquiry can restore public confidence in the integrity of Ghana's transit points.