CDM demands accountability from security chiefs over Ghana’s cocaine trafficking crisis

The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has called for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into a series of major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana, saying the country’s international reputation and confidence in its security systems are at stake. In a statement, the group said the latest concern followed the seizure by French customs of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk on September 7, 2026. The consignment, concealed in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana, was estimated by French authorities at about €225 million.

CDM said the Dunkirk seizure forms part of a wider pattern of narcotics cases linked to Ghana since 2025. The group argued that the developments could have consequences for legitimate Ghanaian businesses and travellers if the country becomes increasingly associated with international drug trafficking. The organisation has therefore backed calls for an emergency sitting of Parliament and urged Speaker Alban Bagbin to establish a bipartisan committee of inquiry.

CDM wants the committee to examine the 2018 decision that excluded the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from routine physical container inspections, as well as subsequent seizures and port-clearance procedures. President John Mahama has since directed NACOC to return to joint container inspections and given security agencies two weeks to harmonise their operations. The Centre for Democratic Movement (CDM) has called for accountability from Ghana’s security and port authorities over a series of major narcotics seizures involving consignments linked to Ghana.

According to CDM, the latest development — the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at France’s Port of Dunkirk — raises questions about how such a consignment was able to leave Ghana undetected. French authorities said the cocaine was concealed in plastic waste in a container originating from Ghana. The group questioned why security agencies allegedly failed to alert President John Dramani Mahama to weaknesses in the port inspection system before the latest seizure.

CDM specifically raised concerns about the 2018 reform that excluded NACOC from routine physical container inspections, although former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has clarified that NACOC remained at the ports but was stopped from physically inspecting containers. CDM is consequently demanding that officials of the key security, customs, maritime and port agencies account for their roles, while calling for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry to establish responsibility based on evidence rather than party affiliation. “Each of them must account,” the statement said, urging Parliament to examine the entire record from the 2018 decision through the narcotics seizures recorded in 2025 and 2026.