NPP grills gov’t over $452.1m cocaine, planes saga

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has intensified its call for transparency from the government over what it describes as a “deepening scandal” involving the seizure of cocaine worth over $452.1 million and the suspicious presence of two foreign aircraft in Ghana.
The party is demanding what it terms “further and better particulars” from the ruling administration, accusing it of shielding critical details from the public and the international community.
At the heart of the NPP’s concern is the recent interception of narcotics and the arrival of two foreign aircraft—AirMed flight N823AM and a Cavok Air Antonov An-12B—under circumstances the opposition believes point to a broader issue of organized international crime operating through Ghana’s borders.

Cocaine busts raise eyebrows
The NPP has raised serious questions over the government’s handling of multiple drug busts, including a staggering $350 million cocaine haul in Cape Coast and another $150 million seizure in Sekondi, which the party claims may have links to a high-ranking member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
These cases, according to the NPP, have seen minimal public disclosure and insufficient investigative updates, despite their serious implications for national security.
In addition to the Cape Coast and Sekondi incidents, 192 kilogrammes of cocaine and 0.42 kilogrammes of heroin—estimated to have a combined street value of $2.1 million—were seized in Oyarifa, a suburb of Accra.
The NPP contends that these escalating cases of drug trafficking cannot be ignored and demand urgent, transparent explanations from the government.

Aircraft at center of suspicion
Adding fuel to the controversy is the unexplained landing of two foreign aircraft at the Kotoka International Airport: the AirMed flight N823AM, reportedly an air ambulance, and a Cavok Air Antonov cargo aircraft.
The government, through a statement attributed to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, attempted to dismiss concerns, explaining that the AirMed aircraft had suffered tire damage that required repairs, while the Cavok plane was said to be transporting oil drills and jerrycans of oil.
But, the NPP remains unconvinced. A statement signed by the party’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, labelled the government’s explanation as “inadequate and defensive,” arguing that it has only served to deepen public suspicion.
“The circumstances are highly unusual,” the NPP statement read. “Both aircraft reportedly developed mechanical faults while in Ghana, and the explanations offered appear deliberately opaque. The refusal to be forthright raises fears that the government may be complicit or, at the very least, attempting a cover-up.”

Parliamentary pressure and explosive warnings
Leading the charge in Parliament is the Member of Parliament for Assin South and Ranking Member on the Defence and Interior Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fodjour.
The MP has issued a stern warning to the government, demanding answers to several pressing questions surrounding the aircraft.
“Who was the patient that the air ambulance was supposedly sent to transport?” Rev. Fodjour asked.
“In cases where a medical aircraft is grounded, it is standard practice to send a replacement ambulance—not a plane full of spare parts and mechanics. Where was the aircraft really headed, and what was its real purpose in Ghana?”
The MP further questioned the logic behind the official explanation.
“If the aircraft suffered tire issues mid-air, how was it able to land safely in Ghana? And if it could land here, why couldn’t it land at its original destination? These contradictions need serious answers,” he emphasized.
Rev. Fodjour threatened to release damning information that could shake the very foundations of the current administration if the government continues to “stonewall the truth.”

International Attention and Security Risks
The NPP also pointed to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which has reportedly called on the Ghanaian government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the aircraft and the growing drug seizures.
According to the NPP, the silence from government security agencies is not only unacceptable but could jeopardize Ghana’s international credibility and partnerships in combatting transnational crime.
The NPP argued that the government’s failure to address these serious matters gives the impression of institutional weakness—or worse, complicity in shielding criminal networks.

A call for transparency and accountability
As pressure mounts, the opposition has vowed to pursue the matter both in and out of Parliament, with party leadership reiterating its commitment to accountability.
“This is not just about drugs or aircraft,” the NPP emphasized. “It’s about leadership, responsibility, and trust in government. The people of Ghana deserve the truth.”
The party has urged President Mahama’s administration to come clean and task the appropriate security agencies to provide a “detailed and professional” account of the aircraft missions, cargo manifest, and connections—if any—to ongoing drug investigations.
As public interest in the case grows, the NPP is preparing to take further parliamentary and legal steps should the government continue to downplay the matter.
The days ahead may prove critical in determining whether this issue becomes one of the defining accountability challenges of the current administration.
By ELVIS DARKO, Accra