Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Sulemena Braimah has called on President Mahama to sack all appointees who are in charge of Ghana’s ports following the drug busts.
He makes the point that the drug busts are becoming very problematic and deeply worrying.
“This Cocaine matters are becoming deeply embarrassing. We don’t have port security in Ghana? How does it always escape our internal checks and controls? Whose job is it to ensure Ghana is saved from this canker? Mr. President, this is becoming very problematic and deeply worrying. Time for heads to roll,” he wrote on Facebook.
Similarly, Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development, Professor H Kwasi Prempeh, told President John Dramani Mahama to hold all appointees with responsibilities for port security accountable for the cocaine phenomenon.
Prof Prempeh reminded the president that all appointees work for him; therefore, if issues like this arise, he should be able to crack the whip.
Their comments come at a time when Spanish authorities have seized 2.6 tonnes of cocaine hidden in two containers of coconuts that were loaded at the Tema port, and arrested two men in Almería.
Explainer: Cocaine in coconuts: What we know about the Tema shipment seized in Spain
The containers were loaded at Tema on August 2 and arrived in Valencia 20 days later. Customs officials and the Guardia Civil chose to inspect them because they matched a “high-risk” profile for illegal drug importation. The wooden crates used to store the coconuts had false bottoms containing packages of the type typically used to transport cocaine, and tests confirmed the white powder inside as cocaine.
Officers removed the drugs and sealed the containers, then waited for them to be collected. Two lorries arrived, and the cargo was loaded into them and followed to Almería. The lorries were refrigerated and went to a warehouse at the La Juaida industrial estate. As unloading began, officers detained the drugs importer and the person in charge of unloading.
The operation took place in August, but authorities only released details on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. It was a joint operation between the Guardia Civil and the Customs Surveillance Service of Spain’s Tax Agency.
The Spanish reports do not say whether any suspects have been identified in Ghana, whether Ghanaian authorities were involved, or where in the supply chain the drugs were placed inside the crates. The detail confirmed so far is that the containers left Ghana’s main seaport (Tema Port).
Commenting on this on his Facebook page, Prof Prempeh said “Mr. President, just so you know, Sir, in case you need reminding, the Executive Authority of this Republic, all of it, is vested in you, and in you alone. Every Minister, and every appointee of yours, including those with responsibility for the security of our ports, work for you. Your power to appoint includes the power to hold appointees responsible, including the power to fire those asleep on the job or not otherwise up to the task. Wake up, Mr. Nice Guy! We are waiting!”
A run of cases linked to Ghana
The seizure comes after several recent cocaine cases involving Ghana, reported by 3News in recent times:
- On 31 October, Lebanese customs seized 46.7kg of cocaine at Beirut airport from a Syrian passenger who had travelled from Accra. The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) later arrested a Syrian, a Tunisian, and a Lebanese national in Ghana over the shipment. Read: NACOC arrests three foreigners over 46.7kg cocaine seized in Beirut 3news
- In September, French customs at Dunkirk reportedly seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a container of plastic waste that had left Ghana. NACOC said it had arrested three suspects it linked to Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers. Read: France cocaine seizure: We believe there could be more arrests in Ghana, NACOC 3news3news
- On 5 August, Tema police seized 866 parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in sacks of gari at a warehouse within the Tema Harbour enclave. Read: Minority demands probe into Ghana’s alleged emergence as narcotics transit hub 3news
