Drug trafficking: Let’s stop the politics and fight as a nation – Dafeamekpor slams NPP

Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has called for a national approach to Ghana’s fight against drug trafficking, urging political actors to move beyond partisan arguments over recent narcotics seizures.

In a social media post, Dafeamekpor cited several drug-related cases recorded in Ghana and involving consignments linked to the country, arguing that the narcotics challenge did not begin under the current administration.

“So let’s stop the politics and fight the drug menace as a Nation,” he wrote.

Dafeamekpor referenced the 2008 seizure of 399 parcels of cocaine at Nsawam, as well as subsequent cocaine and heroin cases involving Ghanaian and foreign nationals.

His comments come amid renewed political debate following the seizure in France of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container of plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana.

The shipment, intercepted at the port of Dunkirk on September 10, was estimated to be worth about €225 million. Four Ghanaians have since been arraigned and remanded in connection with the alleged exportation of the cocaine, while a fifth suspect, Dutch national Jos Leijdekkers, is said to be at large.

The development follows other major drug cases linked to Ghana. In April 2026, Australian authorities seized about 320kg of methamphetamine concealed in a charcoal shipment traced to Ghana, while the NPP Minority has cited several international seizures in demanding a parliamentary inquiry. :

More recently, a 52-year-old South African man was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport after travelling from Accra to Johannesburg, with South African authorities reporting that substances suspected to be heroin were found in his luggage. The drugs were estimated to be worth more than two million South African rand.

Against this backdrop, Dafeamekpor has argued that the focus should be on tackling the narcotics trade rather than turning the issue into a partisan contest.

The 2008 Nsawam case involved 399 parcels of cocaine concealed in a truck transporting cow hide. Three occupants were arrested and subsequently prosecuted.

Dafeamekpor has also cited a January 2009 US Department of State report which described Ghana as a transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly cocaine from South America and heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The NPP Minority, however, has accused the Mahama administration of presiding over an increase in major drug seizures linked to Ghana and has demanded a full parliamentary inquiry.

The Minority said seizures it had identified locally and internationally amounted to more than US$1 billion in under two years.