President John Dramani Mahama has issued a strict two-week deadline to an inter-agency task force to submit a comprehensive operational roadmap aimed at closing security vulnerabilities across Ghana's land, sea, and air borders to halt international narcotics trafficking.
The directive followed an urgent meeting at Jubilee House where security chiefs and ministers briefed the President on recent narcotics cases involving Ghana’s ports.
The Presidency said the meeting examined existing border security arrangements and recommended additional measures to prevent Ghana from being used as a transit point for illegal drugs.
It did not name the agencies that will constitute the task force or disclose the specific weaknesses identified during the security review.
Customs officers among 10 held
President Mahama was informed that 10 people, including four officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, were being held while investigations continued.
“The President was informed that ten individuals, including four officers of the Customs Division of the GRA, are being held while investigations continue,” the Presidency said.
Their identities and any charges against them have not been made public. Being held for investigation does not establish criminal responsibility.
The task force will translate recommendations from the security meeting into measures that agencies can implement across ports and other border entry points.
Dunkirk cocaine seizure raises pressure
The intervention follows the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs officers at Dunkirk on September 10.
The consignment, valued at about €225 million, was reportedly hidden in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana. Part of the shipment was said to be destined for Antwerp, Belgium.
French authorities are investigating the criminal network allegedly connected to the consignment, while Ghanaian agencies are examining how the container passed through the country’s export controls.
Four suspects were remanded in Ghana this week as part of the continuing investigation.
The two-week deadline now places pressure on the task force to move beyond another security review and produce specific steps for improving inspections, intelligence sharing and accountability at Ghana’s borders.
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