Rev. Ntim Fordjour
The Minority in Parliament has blamed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for weakening the country’s maritime security, following a recent pirate attack on a Ghanaian-registered fishing vessel, MENGXIN 1.
At a press conference yesterday, Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, revealed that seven armed pirates boarded the vessel on March 27, took crew members hostage, and kidnapped three Chinese nationals.
The Ghana Navy has since launched an investigation into the attack.
Flanked by Member of Parliament (MP) Kofi Amankwa Manu, former Deputy Minister of Defence, Rev. Fordjour criticised the NDC administration for halting the procurement of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) in 2024, arguing that this decision has left Ghana’s territorial waters exposed to criminal activities.
“Pirates are aware of the Ghana Navy’s lack of OPVs, and they are exploiting our weaknesses. The government must act swiftly to protect our maritime borders before more lives and economic assets are lost,” Mr. Manu also warned.
Ghana Becoming a Drug Trafficking Hub?
Beyond maritime security, the Minority also raised concerns about a growing wave of drug trafficking and money laundering.
They cited suspicious activities involving two aircrafts that landed at Kotoka International Airport in March from Gran Canaria, Spain—a location known for drug trafficking.
According to the Minority, AirMed flight N823AM, a supposed medical evacuation plane, arrived in Ghana on March 20 and remained for five days without transporting any patients.
The Minority said intelligence reports suggest the aircraft was used to smuggle cocaine and large amounts of US dollars.
Similarly, Cavok Air’s Antonov An-12B stayed in Ghana for 13 days before departing on March 25—the same day as the AirMed flight, the Minority intimated.
“These incidents raise serious concerns about how Ghana’s airspace is being monitored under this government. Why were these flights allowed to operate without proper scrutiny?” Rev. Fordjour questioned.
Gold and Cash Raid: Where is the Accountability?
The Minority also pointed to an earlier major security operation on February 9, 2025, in Sapeiman, Ga South Municipality, where National Security intercepted twelve 20-foot containers filled with gold bars and billions of Ghana cedis and US dollars.
Despite the high-profile raid, the government has yet to disclose the value of the seized assets or the status of investigations.
“The legitimate question Ghanaians are asking is: does the government, through National Security, intend to divert the twelve containers of gold and cash, only to turn around to deceive the public in the end?” Rev. Fordjour asked.
He called on the Minister of Interior, who also oversees National Security, to provide full transparency on the matter.
Call for Urgent Action
The Minority Caucus warned that Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s safest countries is now at risk under the NDC administration due to rising cases of piracy, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
“It is imperative that under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, Ghana does not degenerate into a haven for pirates, drug traffickers, and money launderers,” Rev. Fordjour stated.
The Minority pledged to hold the government accountable and push for immediate action to safeguard the nation’s security.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House