Accra:The Editor of the Herald newspaper, Larry Alans-Dogbey, has raised concerns about weaknesses in Ghana’s drug enforcement system during the Akufo-Addo administration, which he claims allowed significant quantities of narcotics to enter the country. He pointed to the withdrawal of Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) officials, non-functional scanners, and the death of sniffer dogs as contributing factors to weakened surveillance at Ghana’s ports.
According to Ghana Web, Dogbey made these allegations during a panel discussion on Channel One TV, emphasizing that the previous administration's handling of drug enforcement facilitated the entry of narcotics into the country. His remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of Ghana’s involvement in international drug trafficking, following recent cocaine seizures in Europe and the arrest of a Syrian national in Lebanon with cocaine reportedly linked to a shipment from Ghana.
Dogbey argued that the current drug trafficking concerns should not solely focus on the present administration, suggesting that the situation under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also warrants examination. He alleged that changes to NACOC’s operational arrangements and deficiencies in surveillance equipment at the ports created opportunities for drug shipments to enter the country.
He further recalled a previous appearance on the same television program, where he had warned that cocaine seizures involving Ghana-linked shipments in Europe could indicate a larger trafficking issue. Dogbey maintained that subsequent seizures have supported his earlier warnings.
Concerns about Ghana’s vulnerability to international narcotics trafficking have increased, particularly following reports of cocaine consignments linked to the country being intercepted abroad. A recent seizure of cocaine at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport has raised questions about potential networks operating within Ghana. A report by Lebanon-based news outlet Independent Arabia suggested that Lebanese authorities contacted customs officials in Accra during investigations into the shipment, uncovering a bribe paid to facilitate the consignment’s passage through individuals in Ghana.
NACOC has stated that the arrest in Lebanon was the result of a controlled-delivery operation conducted with Lebanese authorities to target suspected individuals. The Commission has indicated that investigations are ongoing to identify other potential accomplices.
Source Ghana Web