Ghanaian MPs urge action against drug trafficking and illegal mining

Ghanaian Members of Parliament are calling for national unity and concrete action to combat drug trafficking and illegal mining, urging the government to move beyond partisan political debates.

Majority Leader Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor argued that drug trafficking is a long-standing national challenge that predates the current administration. He cited historical data, including a 2009 US Department of State report labeling Ghana a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin, to suggest that the issue should be addressed as a national priority rather than a political tool.

Similarly, Suame MP John Darko has demanded that the government move past press conferences and assurances to target the financiers and kingpins behind illegal mining (galamsey) and narcotics. Darko highlighted recent international incidents, including the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of suspected cocaine by French customs from a container originating in Ghana and the interception of methamphetamine in a charcoal shipment from the country to Australia.