By Edzorna Francis Mensah
The Minister of Transport, Mr. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, has explained that some staff of the Ghana Airport Company who were implicated in a cocaine smuggling scandal at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) have been reinstated following investigations.
The Transport Minister made this statement when he appeared before the Assurance Committee of Parliament to respond to assurances, promises, and issues raised in relation to his ministry.
In March 2023, it was alleged that a staff member of the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) smuggled 8.5 kilograms of a substance suspected to be cocaine through KIA, but the individual was subsequently arrested at Brussels Airport by Belgian authorities. Mr. Asiamah explained that there has been collaboration with international partners to combat the illegal cocaine trade. He added that a committee was set up to investigate the staff implicated in the incident.
“The security at various airports collaborate with each other. I can even let someone slip through, only for them to be busted at another airport,” he said. “We have also apprehended other individuals here on behalf of other countries. This is a network we need to address,” he added, emphasizing that the safety and security of KIA are among the best in the world.
The Minister stated that the committee’s findings proved that the implicated staff were not culpable, which led to their reinstatement. He further assured the Assurance Committee that the matter was handled internally with the highest standards, adding that no one was punished because no one was found guilty.
It is worth recalling that on April 10, 2024, The Herald newspaper reported on the cocaine smuggling incident. The report indicated that a significant quantity of illegal drugs was intercepted at Brussels Airport, with the cocaine allegedly smuggled through KIA on a Royal Air Maroc flight, facilitated by a GACL staff member.
The Chairman of the Assurance Committee, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, expressed concern over the GACL’s failure to inform the public about the outcome of the investigation. He stated that it is only fair for the public to be made aware of the conclusions of the investigation and what steps GACL is taking to ensure public safety.