President Mahama Establishes Task Force Amid Growing Calls for Accountability Following Major International Drug Seizures

President John Mahama has directed the formation of an inter-agency task force to combat drug trafficking following the interception of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately €225 million, by French authorities. The shipment, which has been linked to Ghana, has sparked a national debate over the country’s security protocols and international reputation. In response to these vulnerabilities, the President has mandated the task force to deliver a comprehensive roadmap to enhance collaboration among security agencies and strengthen the nation’s borders against sophisticated narcotics networks. This move follows other recent high-profile cases, including a 320-kilogram methamphetamine shipment intercepted in Australia earlier in 2026.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has moved to dispel rumors surrounding the investigation, specifically denying claims that any suspects were part of the presidential security detail. NACOC Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah clarified that preliminary checks found no evidence linking suspects, such as Musah Atta, to President Mahama’s protection team. This clarification came as Peter Lanchene Toobu, Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, rejected calls from the Minority to recall Parliament for a special session. Toobu argued that existing parliamentary committees are sufficiently equipped to handle oversight during the current recess, advocating for systemic reforms and proactive measures rather than what he described as reactive micromanagement.

Experts and lawmakers are calling for a significant overhaul of Ghana’s counter-narcotics infrastructure to address these lapses. Mr. Toobu emphasized that NACOC requires a substantial increase in its workforce—which currently numbers fewer than 2,000 personnel—alongside specialized training and modernized technology at the nation's ports. Similarly, Dr. Joshua Ebuntie Zaato of the University of Ghana has urged for the identification and arrest of port security officials who supervised the inspection of containers linked to the Australia shipment. Critics, including NPP Oti Regional Treasurer Nicholas Baafi Boadi, have warned that major cases must result in transparent prosecutions of high-level financiers rather than ending with mere press statements that target only low-level couriers.

As the investigation continues, government communicators and security analysts are urging a unified, non-partisan approach to the crisis to safeguard Ghana’s international image. Haruna Amaliba Kingsley of the Government Communications Team cautioned against exploiting drug busts for political gain, noting that the resulting stigma affects all Ghanaians traveling abroad regardless of their political affiliation. Emmanuel Kotin, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Security and Counterterrorism, further stressed the importance of identifying the powerful networks financing these shipments. The coming weeks will be critical as the newly formed task force prepares its blueprint to restore public trust and secure Ghana’s strategic ports of entry.