Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has admitted that some security officers entrusted with protecting Ghana’s borders compromise the system and facilitate drug trafficking.
The conduct of these officers, he said, has undermined efforts to prevent narcotics from passing through the country’s security checkpoints undetected.
He disclosed this at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, while responding to questions about drug trafficking and weaknesses in Ghana’s border security arrangements.
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He cited a case involving an airport security supervisor who allegedly exploited his position to help a traveller move suspected drugs through an alternative route.
According to the minister, the officer used a staff entrance and bypassed screening because of his senior position. He allegedly carried a bag linked to the operation through the airport before handing it over to assist a suspected drug trafficker.
Mr Muntaka said the authorities are introducing additional screening measures to prevent security personnel from exploiting gaps in airport security.
Under the new arrangements, sniffer dogs will be deployed before passengers check in and again before they board their flights.
The minister acknowledged that the additional checks could delay passengers by between 15 and 30 minutes but said the inconvenience is necessary to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking.
He disclosed that Ghana currently has one scanner at the airport and is seeking to acquire a second to improve the detection of illicit substances.
Mr Muntaka said authorities are strengthening the use of Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) systems to improve passenger monitoring and intelligence-sharing among security agencies.
The measures, he explained, would reduce reliance on individual officers and make it more difficult for anyone to compromise airport security.
The discussions followed questions about how a drug shipment reportedly valued at €225 million, alongside another amount reported at two million rand, passed through the security system undetected.
Responding to questions about cooperation with French authorities, Mr Muntaka said Ghana has initiated mutual legal assistance procedures through the Attorney-General’s office following the incident. He added that France has also requested cooperation.
Ghana, he said, is strengthening collaboration with international partners, including the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, to improve intelligence-sharing against drug trafficking networks.
Mr Muntaka assured the committee that authorities are working to address the weaknesses through improved technology, stronger inter-agency coordination and tighter security procedures.
Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission, Brigadier General Maxwel O. Mantey, told the committee that traffickers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and continually adapting their methods to exploit weaknesses in security systems.
He cited an investigation in which a suspected trafficker had allegedly acquired a scanner to test how suspected drugs appeared during screening.
He assured that international cooperation has helped strengthen Ghana’s capacity to fight narcotics trafficking, including through the provision of forensic laboratory equipment.