The African University of Communication and Business (AUCB) Lecturer Peter Wonder has warned that Ghana risks serious damage to its international reputation and economy if authorities fail to decisively tackle the growing concerns surrounding narcotics trafficking and expose those behind the trade.

Commenting on the recent controversy over Ghana-linked narcotics seizures on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Wonder argued that drug trafficking networks operate through several channels before consignments reach their final destinations, making the identification of the main actors difficult.

He expressed concern about how large quantities of illicit drugs could allegedly pass through the country without being detected by security agencies, describing the situation as a major national security concern.
“If all our security agencies couldn’t notice the quantity of cocaine in our ports before it was transferred, then we are sitting on a time bomb,” he cautioned.

Wonder further argued that narcotics networks could have links with influential individuals, making investigations complicated. He stressed, however, that such claims must be properly investigated and proven rather than assumed.

His comments come amid a political dispute over the Minority’s attempt to establish an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate major narcotics consignments linked to Ghana.

Moreover he disclosed that, Speaker Alban Bagbin ruled the motion inadmissible on September 29, saying its scope substantially overlapped with ongoing investigations and judicial proceedings and could prejudice those cases. He clarified that his ruling did not mean Parliament could never inquire into the matter.
He also was in support of the speaker’s ruling adding that most Parliament Arian are inter-related and that can compromise their findings.

The Minority has disagreed with the ruling, maintaining that Parliament should still be able to examine institutional and systemic issues surrounding border security and anti-narcotics enforcement without determining criminal liability.

Wonder urged authorities to pursue the individuals and networks behind narcotics trafficking, warning that failure to act could damage Ghana’s international image and potentially threaten key economic interests, including cocoa exports.

By Maurice Otoo

Managing Editor of Hawk Newspaper, Charles McCarthy, has backed Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin’s decision to reject the Minority’s motion seeking a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into recent major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana.

Speaking of the controversy at Kessben Maakye show in Accra, McCarthy argued that Parliament has become overly consumed by partisan interests while other pressing national problems receive insufficient attention.

He questioned why issues such as the absence of regional hospitals in the six newly created regions by the previous administration, illegal mining and its effects on health and arable land do not generate the same urgency.

Speaker Bagbin ruled the Minority’s motion inadmissible during Parliament’s emergency sitting on September 29, citing its substantial overlap with ongoing investigations and pending criminal proceedings. Parliament’s official account says the Speaker considered both Parliament’s oversight responsibilities and the risk that the proposed inquiry could touch on matters for determination by the court.

McCarthy also questioned the effectiveness of bipartisan parliamentary committees since fifth Parliament arguing that previous inquiries have often failed to produce meaningful outcomes.

He further challenged lawmakers to give similar attention to illegal mining and other issues he considers urgent national priorities.

McCarthy also criticised what he described as inconsistency in Parliament’s handling of conduct within the House, while maintaining that the Speaker was right to reject the narcotics probe in its current form.

McCarthy therefore challenged all interest parties to conduct a comparitive analysis on narcotics that passes through our ports and galamsey menace and tell us which one deserves attention.

He concluded by insisting that, the Parliament is a crime scene and every bipartisan committee is a cover up.

Lawrence Adonis Addo Cheremeh, popularly known as Kojo Addo, has entered the race for Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Jaman South Constituency of the Bono Region.

Kojo Addo, an Accra-based journalist and media executive, is campaigning on a platform centred on grassroots engagement, unity, accessible leadership and stronger organisation within the constituency. Recent reports have identified him as an aspirant for the position and noted that he is listed as Number 2 on the ballot.

His campaign says he brings more than two decades of experience spanning journalism, media management, political communication, community activities and organisational leadership.

He is a professional journalist, media executive, communication practitioner and entrepreneur who has served in senior positions including Chief Producer, Programmes Manager, Managing Editor and Managing Director.

His professional career has taken him through several media organisations and platforms, including Happy FM/Happyghana.com, Adom FM/Adomonline.com, Hot FM, Top Media Group, Atinka Media Village, now rebranded as Tobinco Media Group, Coastal FM and theghanavoice.com.

Kojo Addo’s connection to Jaman South, according to his campaign profile, extends beyond politics and the media.

He has been involved in activities promoting entertainment, culture and community participation in the area.

One of the initiatives he is credited with is bringing Di Asa, a Ghanaian entertainment and talent programme, to Drobo and Japekrom during his time as Head of Programmes and Production at Atinka Media Village.

The initiative gave residents in the area an opportunity to experience the programme locally while creating a platform for local talents to participate.

His campaign also says he helped give prominence to several radio personalities and politicians from Jaman by providing them exposure on national media platforms.

Kojo Addo previously served on the board of the now-defunct Miss Jaman Beauty Contest and also served as one of the judges for the competition.

He currently serves as Secretary to the Board of Jaman Nkabom Afahye, where he contributes to the organisation of cultural and social activities within the community.

According to him, his involvement in these activities has given him practical experience in bringing people together, coordinating different stakeholders and organising community-based programmes.

Kojo Addo is an alumnus of the NDC Party School’s Institute of Social Democracy (ISD).

His campaign says his involvement with the NDC in Jaman South has been consistent over the years, including support for party welfare initiatives, communication, mobilisation and financial contributions towards branch and constituency activities.

During the 2024 general elections, he voluntarily served as a backup election agent and supervisor, an experience he says exposed him directly to election organisation and grassroots mobilisation.

He maintains that these experiences have strengthened his conviction that an effective political organisation must remain connected to its grassroots.

His campaign materials further describe him as a journalist, development communication practitioner and founder of the Jaman Professionals Forum, while stressing his interest in bridging the gap between experienced party members and younger members.

Kojo Addo says his decision to contest the position is deliberate and is not aimed at creating another centre of power within the constituency.

Rather, he says he wants to work alongside the Constituency Chairman and other executives to strengthen the party’s organisation, communication and grassroots structures.

His approach is captured in five words: LISTEN • CONNECT • DEVELOP • COMMUNICATE • DELIVER

He says these principles will guide his approach to the vice-chairmanship if allowed to serve.

Among his stated priorities are stronger engagement with branches and polling-station structures, improved communication within the constituency and more deliberate efforts to connect young people, women, professionals and community groups to opportunities.

Kojo Addo’s career has taken him across journalism, media management, communication, business and community activities.

He says these experiences have enabled him to build relationships with individuals and institutions across different sectors, which he believes could be useful to Jaman South.

According to him, those relationships can help strengthen connections between grassroots members, the Constituency Executive, Regional and National structures, as well as institutions and potential partners outside the party.

His campaign says the objective is not simply to occupy a political position but to use his experience and networks in service of the constituency.

“I am not coming to compete with the Chairman. I am offering myself to complement the Chairman and strengthen the Constituency Executive. I want to bring my experience, relationships and energy to the service of the party and the people of Jaman South,” he said.

Kojo Addo says the Vice Chairman should be accessible to grassroots members, willing to work with other executives and prepared to take responsibility when called upon.

He says his ambition is to contribute to building a constituency organisation that is more accessible, better connected, better organised and responsive to its members.

Recent reporting on his campaign also identifies Sure 2 Direct as his campaign slogan, while his broader campaign message is framed around “Development in Unity for a Better Jaman South” and “A Stronger NDC, A Brighter Future.”

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has urged the leadership of Ghana’s political parties to stop rewarding politicians who gain recognition through abusive or inflammatory language, warning that such practices encourage others to adopt similar behaviour.

According to him, political parties have a responsibility to shape the quality of political discourse by ensuring that individuals are not rewarded or elevated simply because of the provocative nature of their rhetoric.

Speaking at Parliament’s emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, he said political disagreements could be vigorous without becoming destructive.

“I add this to both political parties’ leaders. Don’t reward only bitter tongues,” Mr Bagbin said.

“That is what I have observed up to date. That encourages others to copy that because that is how they will be recognised.”

He said political party leaders must demonstrate through their conduct that public recognition should not be tied to abusive language or personal attacks.

The Speaker’s comments formed part of a broader call for higher standards of public discourse, amid concerns over the increasing use of insults, threats and other abusive language in Ghana’s political and social conversations.

He said Parliament itself must also examine the conduct of its members and lead by example.

“Leadership in this matter cannot simply consist of asking citizens to moderate their language,” Mr Bagbin said.

“It requires those who occupy positions of public trust to demonstrate by their own conduct that political disagreements can be vigorous without becoming destructive.”

Mr Bagbin said Ghana’s democratic stability depended not only on institutions such as Parliament, the courts and elections, but also on a political culture that allowed citizens to disagree without treating opponents as enemies.

He warned that the cumulative effect of inflammatory language and conduct could deepen divisions and threaten the quality of democratic engagement.

“Our democracy is too valuable to be endangered by a political culture in which insults replace arguments, abuse replaces persuasion, and opponents are treated as enemies,” he said.

He urged political leaders to help reverse that trend and create a political culture based on discipline, decency and substantive debate.

They say his ideas, grassroots-focused policies can strengthen party for 2028

Polling station executives and grassroots activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Eastern Region are calling on party delegates to support Dr. Charles Dwamena, popularly known as Dr China, in the upcoming contest for the position of General Secretary.

According to the executives, Dr Dwamena’s proposed policies, organisational experience and emphasis on strengthening the party’s grassroots structures make his campaign particularly relevant as the NPP prepares for the 2028 general elections.

The call comes as Dr Dwamena contests the General Secretary position alongside incumbent Justin Frimpong Kodua, Eugene Boakye Antwi and Sylvester Tetteh. The NPP is scheduled to hold its national executive elections on October 3, 2026.

The Eastern Region executives, as reported by supporters of the campaign, believe the next General Secretary must be capable of translating policy ideas into practical programmes that reach polling-station and constituency levels.

They point particularly to Dr Dwamena’s proposed “WILD + S” strategy, which focuses on welfare, communication, research, digital solutions, discipline and security.

Dr Dwamena has also proposed strengthening the party’s communication capacity by training executives at various levels to become effective communicators, while developing digital communication infrastructure across the regions and constituencies.

The executives are also highlighting proposals concerning the welfare and capacity of polling-station executives.
Dr Dwamena has spoken about initiatives including a political mentorship programme, business incubation, human-resource empowerment, an accident insurance scheme and a proposed pension arrangement for polling-station executives.

He has also outlined plans to strengthen structures from polling stations through electoral areas, constituencies and regional offices.

Supporters argue that such policies could help improve the relationship between the party’s national leadership and its grassroots base.
They therefore want Eastern Region delegates to rally behind what they describe as a “new ideas, stronger structures” approach to the General Secretary position.

Focus on 2028
The campaign is taking place against the backdrop of the NPP’s stated objective of rebuilding its structures and preparing for the 2028 elections.
NPP flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said the party’s reorganisation is intended to strengthen its membership and structures as part of preparations to return to power in 2028.

Dr Dwamena has similarly said his vision is to help rebuild the party and restore what he describes as the love and confidence of its rank and file, with the ultimate objective of helping Dr Bawumia lead the NPP into the 2028 election.

His campaign platform identifies leadership restoration, decisive leadership, research-driven decision-making, an enabling environment for executives and stronger grassroots engagement among its key priorities.

Dr Chales Dwamena
The Eastern Region polling-station executives backing his candidature are consequently urging their colleagues to examine the competing visions for the party and consider what they believe can best strengthen the organisation ahead of the next general election.

For them, the General Secretary contest is not simply about occupying a national office, but about how the NPP rebuilds its structures, reconnects with its grassroots and organises itself for the 2028 electoral cycle.