General News of 2026-09-23
Drug Bust: I’m tempted to suspect NPP members may be involved – Mustapha Gbande
The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Mustapha Gbande has stated that he is increasingly suspicious that some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) could have connections to the recent illegal drug seizure.
He described the incident as a serious national security concern and called on the relevant security institutions to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suspected drug trafficking operation.
Speaking on Asempa FM on September 22, 2026, Gbande said the fight against drug trafficking should not be reduced to partisan politics, given its potential impact on Ghana’s security and intelligence systems.
“The illegal drug bust is a matter of concern for every Ghanaian. Anyone involved is an enemy of the state. It is a national concern,” he said.
He explained that drug trafficking is a complex and organised problem that requires institutions of the state to work together rather than engage in political exchanges.
Gbande also praised President John Dramani Mahama’s handling of the issue, saying the President was taking his time to understand the situation before deciding on the appropriate measures to tackle it.
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“My biggest consolation is that we have a President who is willing to deal with issues carefully and properly, not in a rush. Mahama wants to understand the problem,” he said.
According to him, the Presidency had initiated steps to tighten security at Ghana’s borders and identify officials who may have enabled drug-related activities, as well as individuals who benefited from such operations.
He maintained that dealing with the drug trade was a collective responsibility involving security agencies, port authorities and other relevant state institutions.
“The responsibility is a national one. It is not about press conferences. The NPP should understand that this is a national concern,” he said.
Gbande further questioned the NPP’s reported plans to organise protests over the drug bust, arguing that the matter should be left to the appropriate institutions to investigate rather than being turned into a political campaign.
“If the NPP wants to be on the street, I am beginning to suspect that it is some of their members that may have done it,” he alleged.
He said security agencies and authorities at Ghana’s ports were already working to establish how the problem occurred and determine the necessary steps to prevent similar incidents.
“This is a country of rules. Mahama is not a knee-jerk President. We are not solving this to please the NPP,” he added.
@asempa_fm Drug Busts: I am sometimes tempted to believe that NPP members are behind these cocaine-related activities to tarnish the image of the government. They are overly politicizing the issue, which makes one tempted to suspect them of being behind it. This is purely a national issue. - Mustapha Gbande #Ekosiisen ♬ original sound - ASEMPA FM
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