Government officials under investigation for Australia-bound meth bust - Muntaka

The Minister of Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that preliminary investigations into the interception of a shipment of methamphetamine in Australia have uncovered possible internal collusion involving some government officials.

Appearing before Parliament's Committee on Assurances on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, he said investigators were still interrogating several government officials over their suspected roles in facilitating the movement of the illicit drugs through Ghana's security systems.

According to him, authorities have identified inconsistencies in the ongoing investigation, raising suspicions that some individuals within the country's security architecture may have manipulated procedures at entry and exit points to aid drug trafficking.

"We were still interrogating a lot of government officials even as of yesterday. There is a lot that is not adding up. You will see that there's some involvement of some people within the system, and we are working to reach as many people as possible, who we think might have played one role or the other," he told the committee.

Muntaka explained that while Ghana has invested in security equipment, technology alone cannot eliminate the threat of drug trafficking if personnel entrusted with operating the systems are compromised.

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"Even if you put all these gadgets, remember that they are going to be operated by human beings. So, if the wrong persons are sitting there, you can bring all the gadgets in this world, it, will still not be safe," he stated.

He revealed that the government has already begun reviewing its security operations, including changes to personnel deployment and rotation, to minimise opportunities for corruption and strengthen border security.

Muntaka cited the example of a handheld weapon detection system donated by the German government for use at the Port of Tema, noting that its effectiveness depends heavily on the discretion and integrity of security officers.

He further cautioned against limiting attention to major entry points such as the Accra International Airport, Tema Port and Takoradi Port, stressing that Ghana has 48 legitimate border crossing points that require effective monitoring.

Muntaka noted the government remains committed to tightening security across all borders while investigations into the intercepted Australia-bound methamphetamine shipment continue.

MRA/VPO

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