Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has raised serious concerns over what he describes as the lack of high-profile arrests and prosecutions following major international drug seizures linked to Ghana.

According to the Assin South MP, Ghana’s security agencies have recorded several significant interceptions, but the alleged masterminds behind the large-scale trafficking operations have largely remained out of the public spotlight.

His comments come days after French authorities seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at about US$261 million, from a shipment of plastic waste that arrived at the northern French port of Dunkirk from Ghana.

‘Where are the high-profile prosecutions?’

Speaking on the Channel One Newsroom, Rev. Ntim Fordjour questioned why major international seizures have not resulted in the arrest and prosecution of the alleged financiers and organisers behind the shipments.

He argued that the focus should not only be on smaller quantities of drugs intercepted locally, but also on the large consignments allegedly passing through Ghana into international markets.

“The serious concern that every Ghanaian must be concerned about is that when you have the one kilo, three kilo tracks that are busted… that’s the least of our worries. Our worries really lie in the high-profile bust,” he said.

$500m cocaine seizures under scrutiny

The MP cited previous cases involving cocaine seizures worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

He referred to separate operations in Takoradi and around the Cape Coast-Accra Highway, which he said involved approximately US$500 million worth of cocaine.

Ntim Fordjour questioned why those cases had not, in his view, produced prosecutions of the alleged masterminds.

He also pointed to an April 2025 seizure in Australia involving approximately US$208 million worth of methamphetamine, which Australian authorities reportedly traced to a container originating from Ghana.

‘Our image is sinking’

Beyond the criminal justice implications, the MP warned that the repeated international seizures could seriously damage Ghana’s reputation.

He said the country was increasingly being perceived internationally as a territory that tolerates or facilitates drug trafficking.

“Our image in the international community is fast sinking. We are fast being perceived as a cocaine coast,” he warned.

He argued that Ghana cannot afford to allow its international reputation to deteriorate while large consignments of narcotics allegedly linked to the country continue to be intercepted abroad.

Latest Dunkirk seizure raises fresh questions

The latest French seizure has added urgency to the debate.

Nearly four tonnes of cocaine were reportedly concealed in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana. French authorities have launched an investigation into the criminal network behind the shipment, with part of the consignment reportedly destined for Antwerp, Belgium.

The seizure has raised fresh questions about how such a massive quantity of narcotics could be concealed in commercial cargo and moved across international borders.

However, the origin of a shipment does not by itself establish wrongdoing by Ghanaian authorities, businesses or citizens. The ongoing investigations will have to determine who organised and financed the shipment and who was intended to receive the drugs.

Fordjour demands answers

Ntim Fordjour said the responsibility for tackling transnational drug trafficking cannot rest with one institution alone.

He identified agencies including the Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and other security agencies as key parts of the country’s border-security architecture.

According to him, the repeated international seizures point to the need for a broader examination of Ghana’s systems for detecting and disrupting organised drug trafficking.

Focus on the masterminds

For the MP, the real test of Ghana’s anti-narcotics campaign is not simply how much cocaine or methamphetamine authorities seize.

It is whether investigators can identify the people financing, organising and facilitating the shipments and bring them before the courts.

He has therefore called for greater accountability and intensified investigations into the networks behind the major international drug seizures.

As Ghana faces growing scrutiny following the latest multimillion-dollar cocaine interception in France, Ntim Fordjour’s warning has put the spotlight firmly on a question that authorities will now have to answer:

Where are the high-profile prosecutions?

Weija/Gbawe MP and Second Minority Whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has urged the government to urgently heed warnings from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over Ghana’s gold trading operations to prevent further financial losses.

Mr Shaib says the findings of the two international financial institutions should trigger immediate action to strengthen monitoring, transparency and accountability under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP).

‘Over $1.7bn loss in one year’

The MP cited an August 2026 IMF report which, according to him, found that the gold programme recorded losses of more than $1.7 billion in 2025, equivalent to about 1.5 per cent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

He warned that such losses could have serious consequences for the country’s finances if the underlying problems are not addressed.

According to Mr Shaib, the losses contributed to the Bank of Ghana being pushed into what he described as deep negative equity.

Shaib questions government’s handling of GoldBod

The Weija/Gbawe MP also pointed to a World Bank assessment which he said described GoldBod-related operations as a “significant and insufficiently monitored risk” to Ghana’s economy.

He argued that the warnings demonstrate the need for much tighter supervision of the country’s gold trading arrangements.

Mr Shaib further accused the government of failing to properly manage what he considers a potentially beneficial policy, describing the situation as incompetence or negligence at the highest level.

‘This is not about Bawumia’s original vision’

The MP stressed that his criticism was not directed at the original concept of using gold to strengthen Ghana’s reserves.

Rather, he said the concern was about how the programme had subsequently been managed.

“A sound idea, poorly supervised, is how you lose over a billion dollars in one year and still have no answers for Ghanaians,” he said.

Calls for full parliamentary probe

Mr Shaib welcomed the Speaker of Parliament’s decision to admit a motion on the matter, saying a parliamentary inquiry would help uncover the truth behind the reported losses.

He is demanding full disclosure from GoldBod on the operations of the programme, including the discounts applied to Ghana’s gold, the officials who approved them, fees charged and the entities that ultimately bore the losses.

He also wants Parliament to have the power to summon officials and demand documents relating to the transactions.

Minority demands transparency

Mr Shaib further called for disclosure of the identities of gold off-takers, discounts granted and fees charged, as well as clarification on whether GoldBod or the Bank of Ghana ultimately absorbed specific losses.

He also wants all contingent liabilities associated with the programme to be publicly disclosed and Ghana’s gold reserves accounted for transparently under standard reserve-reporting arrangements.

With concerns over the reported $1.7 billion loss already intensifying, the Weija/Gbawe MP says the government’s next move must be to implement the reforms recommended by the international financial institutions and ensure that Ghana does not suffer similar losses in future.

The issue is expected to remain a major subject of parliamentary scrutiny as calls grow for greater accountability in the country’s gold trade.

Former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Secretary and Legal Counsel, Kow Essuman, has threatened to take legal action over what he says are outstanding salary arrears and terminal benefits owed to him.

The former presidential appointee has reportedly given the government a deadline to settle the outstanding payments or face a potential court battle.

Kow Essuman demands payment

Kow Essuman, who served as a key member of Akufo-Addo’s administration, is seeking payment of salary arrears and other benefits following the end of his tenure.

Reports indicate that his lawyers have formally raised the matter with the Finance Ministry, demanding that the outstanding obligations be settled.

The dispute has now escalated to the point where legal action is being threatened if the government fails to resolve the issue.

Deadline issued to government

According to the report, Essuman’s lawyers have issued a deadline for the payment of the outstanding benefits.

Failure to comply could result in the former presidential legal counsel pursuing the matter through the courts.

The development puts further attention on how former political appointees are treated financially after leaving office, particularly where contractual or terminal benefits remain outstanding.

Lawyers allege unfair treatment

Essuman’s legal representatives have also raised concerns about what they consider discriminatory treatment in the handling of his claim.

The lawyers argue that the former presidential appointee is entitled to the payments being demanded and are pushing for the matter to be resolved without further escalation.

The case could therefore develop into a legal confrontation between the former Akufo-Addo appointee and the government if an agreement is not reached.

Government faces pressure to settle

The dispute comes at a time when government finances and expenditure on public officials remain under intense public scrutiny.

For Essuman, however, the issue is about securing what he and his lawyers maintain are contractual entitlements arising from his service at the Presidency.

Whether the Finance Ministry will settle the outstanding claims or allow the matter to proceed to court remains to be seen.

For now, Kow Essuman’s threat of legal action has placed the government under pressure to address his demand for unpaid salary arrears and terminal benefits.

Finance Minister and Ajumako Enyan Essiam Member of Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed his appreciation to constituents for their continued support, trust and understanding.

The gesture comes as the MP acknowledges the backing he has received from residents of the constituency while balancing his responsibilities as both a lawmaker and a member of government.

Ato Forson Expresses Gratitude

Dr Ato Forson thanked his constituents for standing by him and supporting his work over the period.

His message reflects an appreciation for the confidence residents have placed in him to represent their interests at both the constituency and national levels.

‘Thank You for Your Support’

The Finance Minister’s expression of gratitude is also seen as a recognition of the patience and understanding of constituents as he carries out his responsibilities in government.

As the MP for Ajumako Enyan Essiam, Ato Forson has continued to maintain a connection with constituents while playing a key role in Ghana’s economic management.

Constituents’ Support Praised

The Finance Minister has previously acknowledged the importance of support from his constituents, particularly as public officials navigate demanding responsibilities.

His latest message is therefore a reaffirmation of his appreciation to the people of Ajumako Enyan Essiam for their trust.

For Dr Ato Forson, the message is simple: the support of his constituents remains an important part of his public service journey.