Alleged illegal drugs saga at KIA unnecessarily politicised — Security analyst

A security analyst and senior researcher at the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Dr Festus Kofi Aubyn, has said the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) alleged drug saga involving the Ranking Member of Parliament Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has unnecessarily been politicised, hindering a thorough investigation.

"The politicisation of the whole issue makes it complex to deal with," he said, adding that sending officials of the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to Rev. Fordjour's house was "completely needless", raising unnecessary tension.

Context

Dr Aubyn said this in an interview with the Daily Graphic following last Wednesday’s attempt by some officers of the NIB to arrest Rev. Fordjour at his residence in Accra.

This followed allegations Rev. Fordjour made on April 1, 2025, at a news conference by the Minority Caucus held at the Parliament House.

They claimed that two flights — AirMed flight N823AM, and Cavok Air private jet, Antonov An-12B, that landed on the tarmac of KIA last month from Gran Canaria, an island in Spain, and later departed back to Gran Canaria had cargo suspected to be cocaine and cash on board.

Rev. Fordjour, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South in the Central Region is said to have failed to cooperate with the security agencies to substantiate his claims which warranted his arrest last Wednesday.

Cooperation

Wading into the issue, Dr Aubyn stressed the importance of cooperation between Rev. Fordjour and the security agencies to get to the bottom of the allegations.

"If you have made an allegation, you are basing your allegation on some concrete evidence you have," he said, adding, "It's essential to collaborate with security agencies with all the necessary information."

Dr Aubyn proposed the use of established channels such as the Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, to facilitate the investigation.

This approach, he said, could help Rev. Fordjour provide the necessary information and clarify any discrepancies.

He also suggested an engagement between the Speaker and the leadership of Parliament to find an amicable solution to the impasse.

"Dialogue can bring us to a conclusion on this matter," Dr Aubyn said.

“The international community is watching the situation closely, as drug trafficking allegations can impact Ghana's reputation and lead to international scrutiny,” the Security Analyst said.

He warned that being labelled a "drug hub" could result in unnecessary checks on travellers and airlines, reducing confidence in the country's security architecture.

Dr Aubyn urged the government to take out the politicisation and focus on finding a solution to the allegations.

"We need to mitigate the reputational damages and boost our credibility on the international stage," he stressed.

For his part, the Communications Officer for Parliamentary Network Africa (PNAfrica), Clement Akoloh, stressed the importance of following due process in such matters.

"The right procedures must be followed because we are working within the constitutional regime," he stated.

He cited Standing Order 24-27 and Articles 117-118 of the Constitution, which outlines the procedures for arresting or interrogating MPs.

Mr Akoloh stressed that the NIB should have obtained permission from the Speaker of Parliament before embarking on the attempted arrest of Rev. Fordjour.

"You need the permission of the Speaker to ascertain that indeed something untoward has been done and there's a need for an investigation," he explained.

Mr Akoloh urged all parties involved to follow the procedures strictly and allow the law to take its course.

"If these procedures are strictly followed and still the Member of Parliament and his backers, the Minority, do not allow him to answer, then we know where the axe should fall," he said.