Ghana’s growing cocaine trafficking scandals raise disturbing questions about national security, port surveillance and the fight against international drug cartels.
Is Ghana’s much-publicised 24-hour economy becoming a 24-hour corridor for international drug traffickers?
That is the provocative question emerging from a series of international narcotics seizures involving consignments traced to Ghana under President John Dramani Mahama’s NDC administration.
While the government promotes its 24-hour economy as a strategy to expand production, trade, employment and economic activity, the repeated appearance of Ghana in international drug trafficking investigations raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the country’s security and export-control systems.
The irony is that Ghana’s ports at Tema and Takoradi commenced expanded 24-hour operations in July 2025, following President Mahama’s directive. The initiative was intended to improve cargo handling, trade efficiency and economic competitiveness but unfortunately they are playing part in cocaine and other narcotic drug shipment
The question for President Mahama is simple: What concrete measures will his government take to ensure that Ghana’s 24-hour economy does not become an opportunity for international drug cartels to operate around the clock?
