NACOC Denies Presidential Security Ties to €225M Cocaine Bust as Mahama Orders Port Inspection Reforms

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has officially denied allegations that any suspects involved in a massive €225 million cocaine seizure in France are affiliated with the security details of President John Mahama or Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang. The controversy erupted following claims by the Member of Parliament for New Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who alleged that one of the suspects, Musah Atta, served as a bodyguard for both the President and Vice President. However, NACOC Deputy Director-General Alexander Twum-Barimah clarified that preliminary background checks found no evidence of such links, emphasizing that the security structures for the two highest offices are managed separately, making it impossible for an individual to serve both roles simultaneously.

The drug bust, which involved approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine intercepted by French customs from a shipment originating in Ghana, has sparked a heated national debate over port security and drug trafficking. In response to the growing concerns, President John Mahama has reportedly issued a directive to reinstate NACOC as a primary Port Inspection Agency. This move seeks to reverse a 2018 decision that removed the Commission from the list of authorized port agencies, a policy shift that critics, including GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi, argue severely weakened Ghana's ability to detect and prevent narcotics from crossing its borders. Gyamfi welcomed the President’s directive, noting that restoring NACOC’s authority and upgrading scanning technology at entry points are essential steps to restoring the country's reputation.

As investigations continue, the political fallout has prompted calls for a unified national front against organized crime. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Majority Leader and MP for South Dayi, urged politicians to stop the "partisan blame game" over drug trafficking, citing historical reports that have long identified Ghana as a major transshipment hub. Conversely, security analysts such as Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr have expressed concern regarding the apparent lack of coordination among Ghana’s security agencies, suggesting that the recent string of international arrests highlights systemic vulnerabilities that the Mahama administration must address urgently.

Currently, four Ghanaian nationals arrested in connection with the shipment have been remanded into custody and face charges related to the exportation of narcotic drugs. They are scheduled to reappear in court on October 13, 2025. While NACOC continues to collaborate with international partners to uncover the full extent of the trafficking network, the government remains under pressure to prove that the proposed reforms at the ports will be sufficient to prevent Ghana from being used as a gateway for the global drug trade.