The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called for the immediate suspension of Ghana’s maritime cooperation and visa-waiver arrangements with Colombia, citing national-security concerns amid a series of large-scale narcotics seizures linked to shipments originating from Ghana.
In a statement dated October 1, 2026, the Minority said recent cocaine interceptions had raised questions about Ghana’s ports and warranted a comprehensive security assessment of the country’s developing bilateral relationship with Colombia.
The call comes amid renewed public debate over major narcotics interceptions abroad, including the disclosure of a record seizure of nearly 4,500 kilogrammes of cocaine from a Ghana-linked timber consignment at the Port of Amsterdam in June 2025. 2nd lead Oct 2
Record Amsterdam Seizure
According to the documents, Dutch Customs discovered the cocaine on June 13, 2025 after selecting the container for further examination following a risk assessment.
Scanning equipment and sniffer dogs subsequently detected cocaine concealed among timber. Dutch authorities reportedly valued the consignment at more than €112 million wholesale and about €450 million at street value, describing it as the largest cocaine seizure recorded at the Port of Amsterdam. 2nd lead Oct 2
The seizure resurfaced in Ghanaian public discussion this week, prompting disagreement over the timing and presentation of media reports about the case.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe confirmed that the interception occurred in 2025 but said it followed an intelligence tip-off from Ghanaian authorities. Critics, however, questioned why the case had not been widely disclosed earlier. 2nd lead Oct 2
The Amsterdam case was followed by other reported interceptions involving Ghana-linked consignments. More than 250 kilogrammes of cocaine were reportedly discovered in another container from Ghana in the Netherlands in November 2025. 2nd lead Oct 2
In September 2026, French Customs authorities also intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in plastic waste in a container from Ghana at Dunkirk, with prosecutors reportedly valuing the consignment at about €225 million. 2nd lead Oct 2
The document also cites the interception of approximately 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine in Australia in two Ghana-linked charcoal containers and a separate suspected heroin seizure in South Africa involving a passenger arriving from Accra. 2nd lead Oct 2
Minority Raises Colombia Concerns
Against this background, the Minority says the government’s visa-waiver and maritime arrangements with Colombia require further security scrutiny.
The caucus cited the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s World Drug Report 2026, which it says identifies Colombia as the world’s leading departure country for cocaine shipments, with much of the trafficking occurring by sea.
It also cited a September 29 JoyNews report that Belgian authorities had ranked Ghana fifth among countries of origin for cocaine seized at the Port of Antwerp. According to the Minority, Ghana was the only African country listed among the top five.
The caucus argued that the combination of recent narcotics seizures and increased connectivity with Colombia required a security review before the arrangements proceeded.
‘Suspend Agreements’
The Minority consequently wants the government to immediately suspend implementation of the Ghana-Colombia bilateral visa-waiver arrangement and the maritime and port cooperation arrangements.
It further wants the entire framework submitted to Parliament for a comprehensive security review.
“Our ports must remain gateways for legitimate trade, and not conduits for international criminal networks,” the statement said, adding that border security and the integrity of state institutions must take priority.
The statement was signed by Damongo MP and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel A. Jinapor.
The Minority’s statement raises security concerns about the agreements; the documents provided do not establish that the Ghana-Colombia arrangements themselves have facilitated any of the cited narcotics shipments.
