In a recent update on the cocaine smuggling scandal at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Ghana’s Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, informed Parliament that staff from the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) implicated in the case had been reinstated.
Appearing before the Assurance Committee of Parliament, Mr. Asiamah clarified that investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing by the staff involved. He emphasized that the reinstatement was based on the committee’s findings, which confirmed their innocence after a thorough probe.
The scandal, which surfaced in March 2023, involved the alleged smuggling of 8.5 kilograms of cocaine through KIA. The drugs were later seized at Brussels Airport by Belgian authorities.
The Minister assured Parliament that there has been close collaboration between Ghana and international security agencies to combat drug trafficking at airports. He explained that similar busts have occurred as part of this global network, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in securing airports.
Mr. Asiamah further noted that KIA remains one of the safest airports globally, with stringent security measures in place. He defended the decision not to punish any staff members, stressing that the internal investigation, which followed international best practices, found no evidence of their involvement in the smuggling operation.
The case, he said, was managed with high standards and professionalism.
Concerns were raised by the Chairman of the Assurance Committee, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, about the lack of public communication from the GACL regarding the investigation’s outcome.
He emphasized that the public deserves transparency, especially concerning steps being taken to enhance security and prevent such incidents in the future. Ablakwa called for more proactive measures to inform the public and restore confidence in the airport’s security protocols.
The cocaine bust was first reported in April 2024 by the Herald Newspaper, which revealed that the drugs had been smuggled through KIA on a Royal Air Maroc flight.
Although the incident raised alarms about airport security, the findings of the investigation have now cleared the implicated staff, allowing them to resume their duties at GACL.
