The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has accused the administration of President John Mahama of turning Ghana into a major transit point for illicit drugs.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, he said the NPP has picked up intelligence that clandestine laboratories had been established in Ghana to process narcotics for export, with some government officials allegedly aiding the movement of narcotics out of the country.
“The intelligence we have picked is that these drug lords, these traffickers, they have established bases, laboratories here for processing of illicit drugs and narcotics under the watch of President Mahama,” he said.
“Our information is that our country has become a major transit point for illicit drugs, for narcotics. And it’s not by accident, but because of the complicity of officials at our port and our airports.”
The issue of narcotics trafficking has become topical in the last couple of days following the seizure of 3.9 metric tons of cocaine worth €225 million in France that was exported from Ghana and originally destined for the Port of Antwerp in Belgium.
The illegal consignment is said to belong to the criminal organization of Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers, alias “Bolle Jos.
In Ghana, at least 10 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the shipment. Four of the suspects are said to be customs officials, but their identities have not yet been made public.
Despite the government setting up an inter-agency task force last week to draw up measures to stop the trafficking of narcotic drugs through Ghana’s borders, the NPP said those measures may not be enough as it demands a parliamentary probe and the dismissal of officials responsible for the country’s security chain.
“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,” Nana B said.