A netizen on X has criticised Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, over his comments attributing Ghana’s numerous recent cocaine busts to the former NPP government’s decision to remove the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from port inspections.
The netizen questioned why the NDC government, if it considered the NPP’s 2018 decision to remove NACOC from port inspections problematic, waited until the cocaine shipment was intercepted in Dunkirk, France, before taking steps to restore NACOC’s role at the ports.
The netizen further urged the NDC government to focus on addressing the gaps in Ghana’s drug-control system rather than shifting blame to the former Akufo-Addo administration.
In a post on X, the netizen identified as Klinsman Karikari Mensa wrote, “Sammy,
You say NACOC was removed in 2018 and that weakened our ports. Yes, it was removed from Joint Inspection in June 2018 as part of reforms to reduce over 20 agencies to 3 to decongest Tema. And as Hon Nitiwul has clarified, NACOC was not removed from Tema Port; they were rather stopped from inspecting containers, and the officers remained at the port. Guess what? This helped in a swift clearance of cargo, and Ghana never trended globally for cocaine, my brother.
You have been in power for 20 months. If the decision was so bad, why did you wait until France disgraced us in Dunkirk to restore NACOC? Why did it take 866 parcels in gari sacks before you acted?
You praise your government for directing that scanners and personnel be changed. Sammy, that is an admission that your own system failed. A scanner doesn’t take a bribe, sir. The ICUMS system flagged that container, and your officers cleared it, bringing such disgrace to our country.g
Don’t blame this on the previous NPP government. You are in charge now. Fix it”.
The netizen comment follows Sammy Gyamfi, the GoldBod Chief Executive Officer, saying the removal of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) from Ghana’s list of Port Inspection Agencies in 2018 weakened the country’s capacity to detect and prevent drug trafficking through its ports.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, the Akufo-Addo government’s decision taken in June 2018 undermined the Commission’s port inspection role, despite its mandate to monitor, regulate and enforce laws on narcotics trafficking.
Sammy Gyamfi further argued that the reasons for NACOC’s removal remained unclear, but argued that the consequences for drug enforcement were significant.
In a social media post on X, Sammy Gyamfi wrote, “Like all patriotic Ghanaians, I am deeply concerned about the recent report of a drug bust in another jurisdiction, the origin of which was traced to one of Ghana’s ports.
Clearly, these incidents could have only been occasioned by weak monitoring and inspection systems at our ports.
In Ghana, the body mandated to monitor, regulate, enforce and control the trafficking of narcotics is the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). It is therefore intriguing that the NACOC was completely removed from the list of Port Inspection Agencies by the government in June 2018.
While it is unclear what may have informed that decision in 2018, it is clear that the said decision weakened NACOC’s port inspection function and denied them the ability to detect and prevent drug trafficking through the country’s ports of entry and exit.
It is therefore refreshing to learn that President Mahama has directed that, effective immediately, NACOC be restored to the list of Port Inspection Agencies and granted unfettered access to all entry and exit points; by air, land and sea.
As someone who has closely worked with the Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey-led NACOC in fighting gold-smuggling, I am confident that with the necessary support, the NACOC will succeed in stemming this tide.
I also understand that the President has directed that all scanners and personnel at our ports be changed, effective immediately.
I believe that these measures, if implemented effectively, will strengthen checks and control at our ports to forestall the recurrence of these unfortunate incidents”.
See the post below:
Sammy,
— Klinsman Karikari Mensa (@Hon_KKM1) September 21, 2026
You say NACOC was removed in 2018 and that weakened our ports. Yes, it was removed from Joint Inspection in June 2018 as part of reforms to reduce over 20 agencies to 3 to decongest Tema. And as Hon Nitiwul has clarified, NACOC was not removed from Tema Port, they were… https://t.co/LaK1LjL6rl
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