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NACOC Nabs Alleged Mastermind in Ghana-Australia Methamphetamine Export Scheme

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The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested the suspected principal shipper linked to an attempted export of about 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from Ghana to Australia, following a months-long intelligence-led operation in Accra.

The suspect was picked up after three months of coordinated surveillance involving NACOC and other security agencies, culminating in a targeted operation that ran over three nights.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Director-General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, confirmed the arrest.

“Through the efforts of NACOC, in collaboration with the Bureau of National Investigation and other security agencies, I’m happy to announce that we have picked up the lead shipper,” he said.

He added that officers endured sustained field operations during the surveillance period. “My officers slept out of their homes for three months and successfully picked up the person who led that enterprise.”

Further arrests expected

Brigadier General Mantey indicated that the arrest marks only the beginning of a wider operation aimed at dismantling the full network behind the attempted shipment. He said additional arrests are expected as investigations progress.

“This afternoon, we’ll be picking more,” he stated, warning that all individuals implicated would be pursued and prosecuted.

“Whoever is involved, like I always say, it is only God and the courts that can free you. We’ll get to the bottom of this enterprise and make sure that Ghana will not be declared as a narcotic state,” he added.

He further stressed that no suspect would be protected based on status or affiliation. “Whether you are a member of the security agency or wherever you come from, if your name is mentioned or you are suspected based on our intelligence assessment, we will pick you up. Nobody will be spared.”

Australian-linked drug interception

The case is tied to a major seizure in Australia involving two shipping containers that originated from Ghana and were intercepted at Port Botany.

According to the Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police, officers detected irregularities during X-ray screening of the containers in April 2026. The shipment, which was declared as bags of charcoal, was later found to contain a white crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Forensic analysis confirmed the total quantity at about 320 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of around A$296 million.

Australian authorities have so far charged three individuals in connection with the shipment, including Emaa Hussen, who is known for appearances in an EastEnders spin-off and a film alongside actor Jason Statham.

She has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia and was denied bail. Under Australian law, the offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

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Court to Rule on AG’s Bid to Suspend Sedina Tamakloe’s Acquittal Today

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The Court of Appeal is set to rule today, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, on an application by the Attorney-General seeking to suspend the effect of its decision acquitting and discharging former MASLOC Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu.

The application follows the court’s decision to overturn the 2024 conviction of Mrs. Tamakloe-Attionu, who had been tried and sentenced in absentia by the Accra High Court to 10 years in prison for offences including causing financial loss to the state.

The State has since indicated its intention to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision before the Supreme Court.

In its latest application, the Attorney-General is asking the Court of Appeal to maintain the existing position until the State’s appeal is determined.

The State argues that giving immediate effect to the acquittal could create the possibility of Mrs. Tamakloe-Attionu leaving the country, which it says could undermine efforts to pursue the further appeal.

The court’s ruling today will therefore clarify whether the acquittal remains effective immediately or whether its implementation will be put on hold while the State proceeds with its appeal.

Source:Citi Newsroom

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NSA Suspends National Service Deployment for Graduates of 13 Institutions Over Accreditation Concerns

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The National Service Authority (NSA) has temporarily suspended the deployment of graduates from 13 tertiary institutions after the institutions were found not to have valid accreditation status.

In a press release issued on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and signed by the NSA Director-General, Ruth Dela Seddoh, the Authority explained that it had consulted the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to verify the accreditation status of institutions that had submitted graduates for national service.

According to the NSA, GTEC confirmed that the affected institutions do not currently hold accredited status. As a result, the Authority said it is unable to process or deploy graduates submitted by those institutions for national service at this stage.

The institutions named are Multimedia Institute of Ghana, Abbeam Institute of Technology, Star College of Communication, Standard College of Technology, Institute of Commercial Management, UK, Christ Apostolic University College, Oxford Institute of Business and Journalism, Heaf Professional Colleges, NIIT Open Labs Ghana, Community University College, Takoradi, SS Peter and Paul Pastoral and Social Institute, Adonai University College of Research and Entrepreneurship, and College of Tropical Agriculture.

The NSA stressed that its decision was based on accreditation information officially provided by GTEC, the statutory institution responsible for the regulation and accreditation of tertiary education institutions in Ghana.

The Authority, however, clarified that the affected graduates have not been permanently excluded from national service. It said they may be considered for deployment once their respective institutions address their accreditation challenges and GTEC formally confirms their accredited status to the NSA.

The NSA stated that after receiving the necessary confirmation from GTEC, it would take the appropriate steps to process and deploy eligible graduates.

The Authority has therefore directed the affected institutions to engage with GTEC and take the necessary steps to regularise their accreditation status.

Meanwhile, prospective national service personnel from the affected schools have been advised to contact their respective institutions for updates on their accreditation situation and to wait for further official communication from the NSA.

The NSA said the verification process forms part of measures to safeguard the credibility, transparency and integrity of the National Service Programme.

It added that it would continue collaborating with GTEC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that only graduates from properly accredited tertiary institutions are mobilised for national service.

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President Mahama reorganises National Security Council Secretariat

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President John Dramani Mahama has approved a reorganisation of the National Security Council Secretariat, resulting in new appointments and reassignments of key security officials.

The changes, announced by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, take immediate effect.

Under the reorganisation, retired Major General William Ayamdo, former Chief of Army Staff, has been appointed Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of Operations.

Former National Security Coordinator, Yaw Donkor, has also been reassigned as Director of Intelligence and Research at the Office of the National Security Advisor.

Mr. Adamu Saaka has been appointed Director of Logistics and Transport, while Ms. Faustina Effah-Boadi takes charge of the Human Security Department as Officer in Charge.

DCOP (Rtd.) Peter Ndekugri has been appointed Officer in Charge of the Special Investigations Unit.

Meanwhile, ACP Alhassan Osman has been reassigned to the Ghana Police Service for further deployment.

The Presidency said the appointments and reassignments form part of efforts to reorganise the National Security Council Secretariat and take effect immediately.

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Agric Minister Launches GAFET to Transform Agricultural Education in Ghana

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The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku has launched the Ghana Agricultural Fund for Educational Transformation (GAFET), an initiative aimed at strengthening agricultural education, research and skills development to support Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Speaking during the launch, the Minister insisted, GAFET is not merely another funding programme but represents a collective national effort to build institutions capable of producing the skilled workforce needed to transform the agricultural sector.
“This programme is not merely another launch but building on institution with collective commitment that will outlive all of us and serve generations unborn,” the Minister stated.

He said the initiative would support the development of agricultural engineers, extension professionals, researchers, technicians, entrepreneurs and agribusiness leaders to make Ghana’s agricultural sector more productive and competitive.
The Minister noted that the transformation of agriculture goes beyond roads and mechanisation, stressing the need for investment in irrigation, finance, machinery, research and human capital.

He explained that GAFET seeks to enhance food production, modernise farming, strengthen mechanisation, expand irrigation, promote agro-processing, reduce dependence on food imports, increase exports and create sustainable jobs, particularly for young people in agribusiness.

The Minister also stressed the importance of strengthening Ghana’s agricultural colleges, saying these institutions have for decades produced professionals whose expertise and technological knowledge underpin modern agriculture.
However, he acknowledged that many of the institutions require renewed investment in laboratories, workshops, demonstration farms, modern machinery, digital learning tools, research, scholarships and industry-responsive curricula.

He therefore reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting the institutions to attain their rightful place in Ghana’s agricultural transformation.
According to him, the GAFET fund will provide a dedicated national platform through which government, the private sector, development partners, financial institutions and citizens can collectively invest in agricultural education and sustainable agribusiness.

The Minister commended Mr. Steven Nhyira Odarteifio and Hon. Kwesi Etu Bonde, for their efforts in bringing the vision to life.

He called on all stakeholders to support the initiative, emphasising that national development is a shared responsibility.
“Government cannot do it alone; government must lead, society must build. National development is a shared responsibility,” he said.

In wrapping up Hon. Opoku commended the five Ghanaian based agribusiness namely , GrowForMe, FarmerLine Ltd, New age, Agrisolve Consult and Tradeline Consult for providing Ghc 3.5 million as seed fund for the GAFET initiative. The fund he said is expected to reach Ghc 10 million by December 2026 and Ghc 100 million by the year 2028.

By Maurice Otoo

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AG Opposes Wontumi’s Bail Application, Says Appeal Has Little Chance of Success

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The Attorney-General has filed processes opposing an application by convicted illegal miner Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, for bail pending the determination of his appeal.

The State argues that Mr Boasiako’s intended appeal has no reasonable prospect of success and therefore does not provide sufficient grounds for his release from custody.

According to the Attorney-General, there are also no special circumstances that would warrant granting the former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) bail while his appeal is pending.

Mr Boasiako’s bail application follows his conviction and sentencing by the Accra High Court over offences linked to illegal mining activities at Samreboi in the Western Region.

On July 20, 2026, Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay sentenced Mr Boasiako to 20 years in prison with hard labour after finding him guilty of offences including assigning mineral rights without the required approval and facilitating unlicensed mining.

The court also imposed a fine on Akonta Mining Company Limited, in which Mr Boasiako is a shareholder and director. It further ordered the confiscation of mining equipment, firearms and cash seized during investigations.

Following his conviction and sentence, Mr Boasiako filed an appeal challenging the High Court’s decision and subsequently applied for bail pending the determination of the appeal.

His lawyers maintain that there are grounds for the appellate court to review the conviction and sentence and have asked the court to release him while the legal process continues.

The Attorney-General, however, has rejected the application, insisting that the proposed appeal does not have a reasonable chance of success.

The State’s latest filing will now be considered by the court as it determines whether Mr Boasiako should be granted bail or remain in custody until his appeal is heard.

The case arose from investigations into alleged illegal mining activities on the Samreboi concession. Mr Boasiako was charged alongside Akonta Mining Company Limited and another accused person in connection with the activities.

Source:myjoyonline

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