Drug trafficking: Awuku questions exclusion of Transport, Interior Ministers from Mahama’s meeting

Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammi Awuku, has questioned the exclusion of sector ministers from a meeting President John Dramani Mahama has convened to review Ghana’s border-control systems and measures to combat narcotics trafficking.

President Mahama is expected to meet key security, aviation and port-sector institutions at Jubilee House on Thursday, September 17, 2026, following the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French customs authorities from a container shipped from Ghana.

Reacting to the planned meeting in a Facebook post on Monday, September 14, Mr Awuku questioned why the heads of institutions directly responsible for border, port, aviation and narcotics control would be invited without the ministers responsible for those sectors.

He specifically questioned the exclusion of the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, under whose ministry the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Shippers Authority and Ghana Airports Company Limited operate.

“If not, why would the heads of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Ghana Shippers Authority and Ghana Airports Company Limited, all under the Ministry of Transport, be summoned to such a high-level meeting without the Minister for Transport?” he asked.

Mr Awuku also questioned the absence of the Minister for the Interior, given that the Ghana Police Service and Narcotics Control Commission fall under that ministry.

“Similarly, why would the Ghana Police Service and Narcotics Control Commission, both under the Ministry of the Interior, be at the meeting without the Minister responsible for the sector?” he said.

The Akuapem North MP said the growing concerns over Ghana’s alleged use as a transit point for illicit drugs required a coordinated response and should not be treated merely as a public-relations exercise.

“The growing concern about Ghana being used as a transit point for illicit drugs is too serious for us to treat it as an optics exercise,” he said.

He also questioned who would be responsible for implementing and supervising decisions reached at the meeting if the ministers with direct responsibility for the institutions involved were not part of the discussions.

“After this meeting, who exactly is expected to supervise and drive the implementation of the decisions reached?” Awuku asked.

He cautioned against creating another layer of coordination when the ministers responsible for the relevant institutions could provide direct political and administrative oversight.

“Are we creating another layer of coordination when the Ministers who have direct responsibility for these institutions are not at the table?” he asked.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews