Madina MP Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu has called for a full investigation into the seizure of a cocaine consignment valued at about $260 million by French authorities, saying the case could damage Ghana’s international reputation.
French customs authorities on Thursday, September 10, intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container carrying plastic waste at the northern port of Dunkirk.
The shipment had arrived from Ghana and was partly destined for Antwerp, Belgium, according to France’s organised crime prosecutor’s office.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, September 13, Sosu said the circumstances surrounding the shipment must be thoroughly investigated and any Ghanaian individuals or entities found to have been involved prosecuted.
He also commended Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for efforts to promote Ghana’s image internationally, saying the country’s democratic credentials and diplomatic standing should not be undermined by criminal activity.
“This hard-earned reputation must not be dented by the actions of a few self-serving individuals who may seek to illegally enrich themselves at the expense of the State,” Sosu said.
He called for those responsible for the shipment to be identified and held accountable.
“Accordingly, I believe the reported seizure by French authorities of a cocaine consignment valued at approximately $260 million must be thoroughly investigated, and any persons found culpable must be brought to book,” he added.
The call comes as authorities face growing scrutiny over the origin and intended destination of the seized consignment and the circumstances under which the shipment left Ghana.