Ghana lacks functional intrusive narcotic detection scanners at ports of entry, says MP John Ntim Fordjour
via GhanaWeb2 min read
Rev John Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member of Parliament鈥檚 Defence and Interior Committee, has expressed concern regarding Ghana's capacity to detect narcotics at its entry points. Speaking on TV3 on April 26, 2026, the lawmaker stated that his investigations at major airports and seaports revealed a lack of operational intrusive narcotic detection scanners. He clarified that he was referring specifically to intrusive narcotic detection scanners, not ordinary security scanners. Rev Fordjour asserted that his claims are based on verified information and internal checks. He also mentioned filing a parliamentary question to the Minister of the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, who confirmed the absence of functional detection scanners, attributing it to equipment breakdown. The Minister indicated that steps are being taken to acquire new scanners, pending funding availability. Ntim Fordjour's recent follow-up checks at the Ghana Airports Company Limited suggest that procurement processes have been initiated but are not yet complete.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
Private legal practitioner Andy Appiah-Kubi stated that Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP, knew he would be convicted before the Accra High Court delivered its judgment in the Samreboi illegal mining case. Appiah-Kubi, who previously represented Wontumi, said Wontumi informed him of the expected 20-year jail sentence prior to the ruling. Despite the conviction, Appiah-Kubi believes the court's decision was flawed, arguing it incorrectly treated Chairman Wontumi and Akonta Mining as the same legal entity, which he claims is contrary to company law. He stated that this legal distinction will be a key ground for appeal. Wontumi was sentenced on July 20, 2026, to 20 years' imprisonment with hard labour for illegal mining-related offenses, and his legal team plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.
Hannah Awadzi, Founder and Executive Director of the Inclusive Family Alliance, has called on Ghanaians to abandon superstitions and stigma associated with disability. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra, Awadzi stated that harmful beliefs linking disability to bad omens perpetuate discrimination and social exclusion. She emphasized that disability is not a curse and can affect anyone, urging a societal shift in attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities. Awadzi highlighted that changing public perception is crucial for fostering inclusion and enhancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities, noting that removing superstition is the initial step towards policy and opportunity improvements. She stressed that progressive societies implement systems and programs to support Persons with Disabilities and encouraged Ghanaians to view inclusion as a collective responsibility. The Inclusive Family Alliance collaborates with various entities to promote positive attitudes towards disability and assists parents of children with disabilities by offering information and creating supportive, stigma-free environments.
Ghana has expressed appreciation to France for its support following an attack on Ghanaian troops serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon UNIFIL earlier this year. Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, conveyed this gratitude during a high-level engagement with France鈥檚 Delegate Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans. The Ghanaian delegation, which included Ghana鈥檚 Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Mavis Ama Frimpong, and members of Parliament鈥檚 Defence and Interior Committee, discussed the longstanding defence relationship and opportunities for deeper cooperation between the two nations. The engagement specifically acknowledged France鈥檚 response to the March 6, 2026, attack in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, where three Ghanaian peacekeepers were injured. France, through its Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, had condemned the "unacceptable" attack and expressed full solidarity with Ghana, wishing the injured personnel a speedy recovery. The Israeli military later acknowledged mistakenly striking the UNIFIL position, expressing regret and apologies to Ghana and the United Nations.