NPP cannot win cocaine debate in Ghana — Dafeamekpor fires back

Majority Chief Whip and South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has entered the growing debate over narcotics trafficking in Ghana, arguing that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) cannot successfully turn the issue into a partisan political battle.

In a post on X, Dafeamekpor cited a series of drug seizures and arrests recorded in Ghana and involving Ghanaians or foreign nationals between 2017 and 2024.

He referenced cases involving cocaine and heroin seizures at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Ghana Post and other locations, as well as the major 399kg cocaine seizure at Nsawam in 2008.

Dafeamekpor drags 2008 cocaine case into debate

Dafeamekpor also referred to a January 2009 US Department of State report which described Ghana as a transit point for illegal drugs, particularly cocaine from South America and heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan.

According to the report he cited, drugs were transiting through Accra’s Kotoka International Airport to Europe and the United States, while also contributing to domestic drug consumption.

The Majority Chief Whip used the historical cases to argue that drug trafficking is not a problem that began under the current administration.

His intervention comes amid heightened political debate following major narcotics seizures linked to consignments from Ghana, including the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at France’s Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026. The parliamentary Minority has called for Parliament to be recalled to examine the issue.

‘Let’s stop the politics’

Dafeamekpor is calling for the focus to shift away from political exchanges and towards tackling the narcotics menace as a national problem.

He argued that the various seizures and arrests should be viewed in the context of a longstanding challenge requiring cooperation among Ghanaian and international law-enforcement agencies.

His message was that political parties should put aside partisan considerations and support efforts to combat drug trafficking.

The South Dayi MP has also previously argued that Parliament should not interfere with ongoing investigations being conducted by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Police and other agencies legally mandated to investigate and prosecute narcotics-related offences.

NPP and NDC clash over Ghana’s drug-trafficking record

The latest comments add another layer to the political debate over Ghana’s handling of narcotics trafficking.

While the opposition has raised concerns about recent seizures and the security of Ghana’s ports and export systems, Dafeamekpor has pointed to historical cases to argue that the challenge cuts across different administrations.

For him, the issue should not become a contest between the NPP and NDC, but rather a national effort involving security agencies, customs, port authorities and international partners.