Emmanuel Nkansah Abankwah
President John Mahama has summoned key security, aviation, and port-sector institutions to a high-level meeting to review Ghana’s border-control systems and measures to combat narcotics trafficking. Africans & Diaspora
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday, September 17, 2026, at Jubilee House, comes days after French customs authorities seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of US$261 million from a container shipped from Ghana.
According to an invitation issued by the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, and sighted by Citi News on Monday, September 14, the meeting will examine gaps in border-control systems and identify practical measures to prevent the trafficking of narcotic drugs and other illicit substances.
The participating institutions have been directed to be represented by their heads, accompanied by no more than one relevant technical officer.
They are also expected to provide brief assessments of existing security gaps and propose measures to improve intelligence sharing, surveillance, screening, and joint enforcement operations.
The meeting also follows concerns raised by the Minority over Ghana’s handling of major international drug seizures, with Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, questioning the lack of what he described as high-profile arrests and prosecutions in such cases.
Institutions expected at the meeting include the Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs; Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority; Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority; Ghana Shippers’ Authority; operators of terminal scanners; Ghana Link Network Services Ltd; Ghana Maritime Authority; Ghana Navy; Meridian Port Services Ltd; National Intelligence Bureau; Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Department and Interpol; Narcotics Control Commission; and Ghana Airports Company Limited.
Meanwhile, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested three suspects allegedly linked to the ‘Bolle Jos’ cocaine trafficking network following the seizure of a cocaine shipment by French customs.
According to NACOC, the suspects are currently in its custody and are assisting with investigations into their alleged roles in the reported cocaine trafficking operation.
