Ntim Fordjour alleges political protection for drug traffickers in Ghana

Pinned summary · as of 15:51

John Ntim Fordjour, the Minority's Ranking Member on Parliament's Defence and Interior Committee, has accused authorities of shielding people involved in the drug trade in Ghana. He made the allegation as concern grows over cocaine seizures linked to the country, and no government reply to it appears in the reports.

What we know

• Fordjour, the Ranking Member on Parliament's Defence and Interior Committee, alleged that the response to concerns about cocaine trafficking amounts to protection for drug networks, and said security institutions must move from assurances to concrete action, according to The Vaultz News and MyJoyOnline.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Fordjour said he has raised security concerns with ministers and agency heads both privately and publicly, and called Ghana's ranking in cocaine seizure reports unfortunate and embarrassing; these are his own statements, reported by The Vaultz News.
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  The Vaultz News, citing Belgian Customs, reported that in 2025 Ghana ranked fifth among origin countries for cocaine seized at Antwerp, and was the only African country in the top five, behind Ecuador, Costa Rica, Brazil and Colombia. Other reports have not confirmed the ranking.
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  MyJoyOnline reported that Speaker Alban Bagbin ruled the Minority's motion for an ad hoc committee on recent cocaine seizures inadmissible at an emergency sitting. No other report has confirmed the ruling, and the Speaker's reasoning is not given.
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  Fordjour alleged that the Speaker and the Majority NDC blocked the inquiry because “they want to keep protecting the drug cartels.” He also argued the decision suggests the government has information it does not want exposed; these claims are his and have not been established.
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  Fordjour alleged that after his warnings about organised crime, authorities turned their attention to him and his family, and that this sent a signal to cartels; he also said foreign agencies have grown reluctant to share sensitive information with Ghana. None of this has been confirmed.
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  According to Fordjour, Ghana fell from second in Africa on the Global Peace Index in 2021 to seventh in 2025, and he linked this to the security picture; the ranking comes from him and has not been confirmed by other reports.
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  MyJoyOnline reported that the call for an inquiry drew backing from the Catholic Bishops' Conference, the Christian Council of Ghana and civil society bodies, and that the 2025 Global Organised Crime Index raised concern about political protection for traffickers. Neither point has been confirmed elsewhere.

Why it matters for Ghana

Drug trafficking and the credibility of Ghana's ports and airports affect the country's standing with trading partners and security partners abroad, and the way Parliament handles the question shows how far elected members can scrutinise state agencies. Ghanaians in Accra, Tema and elsewhere who rely on trade through those gateways have a stake in whether checks are seen as trustworthy. The claims here are political allegations from the Minority, and no evidence of wrongdoing by any named official has been established.