The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for the immediate removal of the heads of key state institutions over what it describes as failures in the fight against narcotics trafficking in Ghana.
The party is demanding the dismissal of the heads of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), Ghana Shippers’ Authority, as well as the Commissioner-General and the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID).
NPP National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, made the call at a press conference on Tuesday, September 22, where he also urged the government to establish a bipartisan parliamentary committee to investigate 12 narcotics-related cases recorded between 2025 and September 2026.
He said the street value of the narcotics intercepted in the cases exceeds US$1 billion, arguing that the developments raise serious questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s institutions responsible for preventing drug trafficking.
Mr Boakye accused the heads of the affected institutions of failing to adequately discharge their responsibilities and said they should be held accountable.
“They have relaxed on their duties. They must be sacked. Yet the President calls for a meeting. Nothing happens. We voted for leadership, not weak leadership,” he said.
“The Director General, Ghana Ports and Habour Authority, he must be sacked . The Director General, Ghana Maritime Authority, this person must be fired.. The Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Shippers Authority. This person must go. The Director General, Nacortics Control Commission and the deputies, they must all go.
“National Security Coordinator, Director General, National Intelligence Bureau. The Managing Director, Ghana Airport Company Limited. The Commissioner General, Customs Division and the CID Boss, she has really displayed incompetence, all of them must be sacked.”
He further criticised President John Dramani Mahama’s response to the recent narcotics cases, saying his call for stronger action had not been matched by corresponding dismissals of officials.
“What His Excellency the President is exhibiting is weak leadership,” he said.
“His Excellency the President spoke tough. He was going to crack the whip. Today, he cannot crack the whip. He is rather pampering the activities of illicit drugs,” Mr Boakye added.
His comments come amid concerns of narcotics trafficking through Ghana’s borders following the seizure in France of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine from a container that originated from Ghana.
Four people have been charged in Ghana in connection with the shipment, while six others, including four Customs officers, have also been arraigned over the case.
President Mahama has subsequently directed an inter-agency task force to review existing systems for detecting drug trafficking through Ghana’s borders and submit a roadmap within two weeks.
The President has also directed the reinstatement of NACOC in joint container inspection operations at the ports.
The NPP’s demand for the removal of the institutional heads forms part of its broader call for an independent bipartisan investigation into the recent narcotics cases.
