Veteran journalist cautions Foreign Affairs Minister against personally handling every ministry issue, while insisting that calls for his dismissal over the South Africa evacuation expenditure must not be based on suspicion alone.

Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has sent a strong word of caution to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa amid mounting pressure from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for his removal over alleged discrepancies in the expenditure on the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the Managing Editor of The Insight Newspaper urged the minister to be more careful in how he handles administrative matters, warning that his tendency to personally front issues could expose him to unnecessary political and administrative risks.

Pratt argued that a minister occupying such a sensitive office should allow the ministry’s established structures to function rather than taking responsibility for every matter.

‘The minister is the last resort’

He pointed to the presence of deputy ministers, chief directors and departmental heads, saying they should be allowed to perform their respective duties, with the minister intervening when necessary.

Pratt questioned why Ablakwa appeared to be the person constantly responding to controversies that could ordinarily be handled by the ministry’s public relations department.

He advised the minister to distance himself from the potential fallout of routine administrative decisions and ensure that officials responsible for particular departments are held accountable for their work.

Pratt rejects calls for dismissal based on suspicion

The journalist also addressed the controversy surrounding the reported GH¢49.7 million spent on evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa.

His comments followed a demonstration by NPP supporters in Accra, led by the party’s National Youth Organiser, Yakubu Fusani, popularly known as NPP Abanga. The protesters petitioned the Presidency, demanding an independent audit of the expenditure and calling for Ablakwa’s removal.

Pratt maintained that inconsistencies in financial records do not automatically establish wrongdoing, insisting that the figures must first be examined and reconciled by competent professionals.

“You cannot actually punish people on the basis of suspicion,” he argued, adding that possible malpractice had not yet been established.

NPP insists minister must account

NPP Third Vice-Chairman Nana Akomea, who also appeared on the programme, agreed that the discrepancies required answers. He argued that failure to provide satisfactory explanations could deepen public suspicion.

Akomea urged Ablakwa to engage Parliament, particularly the Foreign Affairs Committee, and provide supporting documentation on the evacuation costs.

The controversy continues to place the Foreign Affairs Minister under scrutiny, with growing calls for transparency over the use of public funds and questions about his handling of the ministry’s affairs.

A political analyst, Yaw Asani Tano has criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its handling of the ongoing narcotics controversy, accusing the opposition of exaggerating the issue and damaging Ghana’s international reputation.

According to him, drug trafficking is not a new phenomenon in Ghana, stressing that narcotics-related activities have been a global challenge for years.

Speaking on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, he argued that the controversy surrounding the alleged passage of narcotics through Ghana should be handled responsibly, rather than turned into a political weapon against the government.

Yaw Asani Tano further raised concerns over allegations that an individual collected US$3,000 to facilitate the passage of narcotics, insisting that such claims deserve proper investigation.
He questioned why institutional heads were allegedly not held accountable for similar incidents under the previous administration.
He maintained that national security matters cannot always be discussed publicly, urging Ghanaians to allow the appropriate institutions to investigate the allegations.
“The NPP is making too much noise, but they need to be heard because of where they currently stand,” he stated.

He cautioned that although the opposition has every right to demand accountability, portraying the government as incapable of fighting narcotics could ultimately tarnish Ghana’s image internationally.

Yaw Asante Tano called for a balanced national conversation on drug trafficking, emphasising that protecting Ghana’s reputation must remain a shared responsibility beyond partisan politics

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately dismiss the heads of key security institutions, including the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), following a series of major cocaine seizures linked to Ghana.

The party says the repeated interceptions of narcotic substances in Ghana and abroad have raised serious questions about the country’s border security systems and the effectiveness of institutions responsible for protecting its ports and airports.

The demand was made by the NPP’s Second National Vice Chairman, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, during a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Addressing journalists, Nana Boakye insisted that the continued occurrence of drug trafficking incidents required immediate accountability from government officials overseeing the country’s security institutions.

He specifically demanded the removal of the leadership of NACOC and Ghana Airports Company Limited, including the Managing Director and head of security.

He also called for the heads of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and National Security to step aside to allow an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the seizures.

“The head of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the leadership there, they must go. Ghana Airports Company Limited, they must go; the leadership there, from the MD to the head of security, they must all leave,” he stated.

NPP Questions Ghana’s Airport and Port Security

Nana Boakye argued that institutions responsible for securing Ghana’s entry points must be held accountable whenever major drug consignments are linked to the country.

According to him, the repeated interceptions have created concerns about Ghana’s reputation internationally and the country’s vulnerability to organised drug trafficking networks.

He questioned why officials responsible for airport and port security remained in their positions despite the incidents.

The NPP official also criticised President Mahama’s handling of the situation, arguing that the government had not demonstrated sufficient action following previous cocaine seizures.

“And the President is not doing anything about it. They have failed. They have failed repeatedly. And they must be sacked,” he added.

46.7kg Cocaine Seized in Lebanon Raises Fresh Concerns

The NPP’s demands follow the arrest of a Syrian national at Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 31, 2026.

The suspect had reportedly travelled from Accra aboard a Middle East Airlines flight when Lebanese authorities intercepted approximately 46.7 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in two suitcases containing 40 packages.

Reports also indicated that electronic tracking devices were discovered among the concealed packages.

The incident has attracted renewed attention to Ghana’s airport security procedures, particularly how such a consignment was able to travel out of the country.

However, NACOC has maintained that the shipment was allowed to leave Ghana as part of a controlled delivery operation coordinated with Lebanese authorities.

The Commission explained that the operation was intended to help investigators identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the suspected international trafficking network.

Three foreign nationals were subsequently arrested in Ghana in connection with investigations into the shipment, according to reports published on November 4.

NPP Cites Multiple International Cocaine Seizures

Beyond the Beirut incident, the opposition party pointed to several other major drug interceptions involving consignments reportedly linked to Ghana.

Nana Boakye said the party had identified at least 14 major drug seizures between March 2025 and October 2026, including incidents in Ghana and overseas.

One of the most notable cases involved the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of suspected cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk in France in September 2026.

The shipment, concealed in a container carrying plastic waste that had departed Ghana, further intensified scrutiny of the country’s international cargo and shipping procedures.

The NPP argues that the repeated incidents should prompt a comprehensive review of the security arrangements at Ghana’s major ports and airports.

NPP Demands Independent Investigation and Parliamentary Probe

The party’s demands go beyond the removal of security officials.

The NPP has also called for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into the Beirut cocaine incident to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shipment.

It wants the government to publish the roadmap prepared by the inter-agency task force established after President Mahama chaired an emergency security meeting on September 17, 2026.

The party has also requested a joint statement from Ghanaian and Lebanese authorities explaining the circumstances of the controlled delivery operation and when Ghanaian officials were first informed about the interception.

Additionally, the NPP wants the names and details of individuals arrested in Ghana over the Beirut shipment to be made public, subject to the applicable legal process.

It has further called for the prosecution of any public officials found to have facilitated drug trafficking activities.

Government’s Position: NACOC Says Investigation Is Ongoing

Meanwhile, the government’s position on the Beirut incident differs from the NPP’s interpretation of events.

The Interior Ministry has defended the controlled delivery approach, explaining that international drug investigations sometimes require consignments to be monitored beyond their point of departure to identify other members of trafficking networks.

Government spokesperson Julius Kwame Anthony has urged the public to allow investigators to complete their work, stressing that the objective is to dismantle the wider criminal network rather than focus solely on the individual courier.

NACOC has also maintained that its cooperation with international partners forms part of efforts to track and disrupt organised drug trafficking operations.

What Happens Next?

With the NPP demanding the removal of key security officials and an independent parliamentary investigation, pressure is mounting on the government to provide further explanations about the repeated cocaine seizures linked to Ghana.

The central questions remain how the consignments passed through the country’s security systems, whether any public officials facilitated the operations and what measures are being implemented to prevent similar incidents.

For now, the government faces calls from the opposition to demonstrate accountability, strengthen border security and protect Ghana’s international reputation as investigations into the suspected drug trafficking networks continue.

Former NDC parliamentary aspirant for Bortianor- Ngleshie – Amanfro, Alexander Ackuaku, has launched a fierce attack on the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accusing the former administration of weakening Ghana’s fight against drug trafficking by allegedly removing the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from the country’s ports.

According to Ackuaku, the alleged decision created loopholes that emboldened drug traffickers to use Ghana as a transit point for narcotics.
Speaking on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, he questioned the NPP’s credibility in raising concerns about the growing cocaine menace, accusing the party of remaining silent when drug-related controversies allegedly damaged Ghana’s international reputation.

Ackuaku argued that the NDC administration had identified the security gaps and restored NACOC’s presence at the ports to strengthen surveillance and clamp down on suspected drug traffickers.

He further claimed that the government had recently arrested over 200 suspected drug peddlers and was collaborating with Lebanese security authorities to track individuals involved in the illegal trade.
“Drug issues are very delicate and must not be joked about because they can generate gun violence,” he cautioned.

The former parliamentary aspirant also disclosed that NACOC was recruiting additional officers to expand its operations across the country.
Ackuaku insisted that the NPP should rather commend the government’s efforts to combat narcotics trafficking instead of politicising the issue.
He warned that Ghana could face serious security consequences if drug trafficking is not tackled decisively.

Former NDC MP aspirant for Bortianor- Ngleshie- Amanfro, Alexander Ackuaku, has launched a blistering attack on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its criticism of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the government’s handling of accountability on the South Africa evacuation exercise.

In a discussion on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Ackuaku insisted, the NPP lacks the moral authority to question the government’s accountability drive, accusing the opposition party of attempting to divert public attention from allegations of wrongdoing.

He challenged the NPP to provide evidence proving Ablakwa guilty of any wrongdoing, insisting that the disbursement of funds to evacuees was conducted openly and transparently under camera surveillance.
Ackuaku also questioned why individuals who allegedly failed to receive their expected payments did not immediately raise concerns but waited until the NPP organised what they described as a “Yɛegye Yɛn Sika” protest.

He further described the NPP protest as a mere political keep-fit exercise designed to attract attention, claiming that Ghanaians have seen through the opposition’s actions.
“We in the NDC are not afraid of accountability so bring your empirical evidence to buttress your allegations and stop the noise,” he challenged.

His remarks add another dimension to the political exchanges between the NDC and NPP over transparency, accountability and the handling of public funds.

Former NDC MP aspirant for Bortianor- Ngleshie- Amanfro, Alexander Ackuaku, has launched a blistering attack on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) over its criticism of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the government’s handling of accountability on the South Africa evacuation exercise.

In a discussion on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, Ackuaku insisted, the NPP lacks the moral authority to question the government’s accountability drive, accusing the opposition party of attempting to divert public attention from allegations of wrongdoing.

He challenged the NPP to provide evidence proving Ablakwa guilty of any wrongdoing, insisting that the disbursement of funds to evacuees was conducted openly and transparently under camera surveillance.
Ackuaku also questioned why individuals who allegedly failed to receive their expected payments did not immediately raise concerns but waited until the NPP organised what they described as a “Yɛegye Yɛn Sika” protest.

He further described the NPP protest as a mere political keep-fit exercise designed to attract attention, claiming that Ghanaians have seen through the opposition’s actions.
“We in the NDC are not afraid of accountability so bring your empirical evidence to buttress your allegations and stop the noise,” he challenged.

His remarks add another dimension to the political exchanges between the NDC and NPP over transparency, accountability and the handling of public funds.