Mahama orders two-week inter-agency roadmap to stop narcotics trafficking through Ghana

# Overview

President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the formation of an inter-agency task force charged with producing a two-week roadmap to prevent narcotics trafficking through Ghana's borders. The directive follows a high-level security briefing and fresh investigations that have led to 10 people being held, including four officers of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

# What triggered the directive

The presidency convened security chiefs for an urgent briefing on ongoing probes into narcotics movement through Ghana's ports. The meeting reviewed investigations and existing security structures tasked with stopping drugs at borders and ports. International seizures tied to consignments linked to Ghana prompted renewed scrutiny of local systems.

# Task force mandate and timeline

• A list of identified vulnerabilities in current border and port security systems.
• Specific operational measures to improve detection of narcotics in cargo and passenger flows.
• Recommendations for cross-agency coordination, intelligence sharing, and use of technology.
• An implementation timeline and assignment of responsibilities to relevant agencies.

Agencies anticipated to participate include those responsible for border management, customs operations, intelligence, maritime security, and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).

# Known arrests and ongoing investigations

# Immediate pressure points for the roadmap

The roadmap is expected to concentrate on concrete gaps that allowed trafficked consignments to move through the supply chain. Areas likely to be addressed include:

• Cargo screening procedures for containers reported as waste or low-risk goods.
• Internal oversight and accountability within customs and other port agencies.
• Intelligence sharing between national agencies and with foreign counterparts.
• Use of surveillance and detection technology at ports and border entry points.

The directive raises pressure on security agencies to identify short-term, implementable measures within a tight timetable.

# What to watch next

Within two weeks, the presidency expects a roadmap with proposed actions. Follow-up items to monitor:

• The task force's specific recommendations and any immediate policy or staffing changes.
• Whether formal charges are filed against the detained individuals and the outcome of those investigations.
• How port and customs procedures change, including any new screening technologies or inter-agency protocols.