Gov’t response to drug trafficking disappointing, shows ineptitude – Save The Republic

Save The Republic, a youth movement, has described government’s response to recent narcotic trafficking cases as a “bewildering display of governmental ineptitude, institutional paralysis and a disturbing failure of political will.

In a statement issued on Thursday, September 17, 2026 and signed by its Team Lead, Kwesi Botchway Jnr, Esq, the group said “The response by government is not merely disappointing; it is a bewildering display of governmental ineptitude, institutional paralysis and a disturbing failure of political will.”

This comes after the Presidency announced that President John Dramani Mahama had chaired an urgent meeting with security chiefs over the trafficking of drugs out of the ports of Ghana.

According to the Presidency statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, “The President was informed that ten (10) individuals, including four officers of the Customs Division of the GRA are being held while investigations continue.”

The Presidency said President Mahama has directed that “an inter-agency task force be formed to present a detailed roadmap, emanating from today’s meeting, on measures to prevent the trafficking of drugs through Ghana’s borders in two weeks.”

But Save The Republic says the move is inadequate, arguing that “At a time when Ghana’s name is repeatedly being dragged into major embarrassing international narcotics seizures, the President’s response is yet another task force, and another two-week roadmap.”

The group said “This is an abdication of the decisive leadership the moment demands.”

It is therefore demanding immediate sanctions, stating that “If for nothing at all, the President should have immediately demanded the resignation or sacking of the Head of Security at Tema Port, Col Atobrah Bondah, and the Customs Commissioner Aaron Kanor.”

“A security failure of this magnitude cannot be met with business as usual,” the group added.

Save The Republic further stated that “The President has yet again deepened the perception that he has zero commitment to the serious and uncompromising fight against illicit drugs,” and called on Ghanaians to rise up, saying “We need to rise up and SAVE THE REPUBLIC from becoming a cocaine coast.”