IMANI’s Kofi Bentil Urges Authorities Not to Dismiss Drug Allegations Linked to Ghana Flights
Kofi Bentil, Senior Vice President of IMANI Africa, has advised against hastily dismissing suspicions of drug trafficking involving two aircraft that landed in Ghana in March 2025. His remarks follow a call by the Minority in Parliament for transparency regarding the purpose and cargo of an air ambulance and a private jet that entered the country earlier in the month and departed for Gran Canaria on March 25.
The Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, has raised red flags, suggesting the possibility of drug trafficking or money laundering and demanding that authorities disclose the full details of the aircrafts’ contents. However, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has dismissed the claims as unfounded.
He accused Rev. Fordjour of intentionally spreading false information to tarnish the government’s image. According to Kwakye Ofosu, the aircraft underwent complete security checks and were not found to be carrying any illegal items.
Despite these official reassurances, Kofi Bentil expressed concerns during a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on April 5. He noted that while the explanations provided may seem acceptable on the surface, they should not be accepted without question, especially considering Ghana’s historical struggles with narcotics trafficking.
“Drug dealers are not fools. All the explanations given, if you understand how these people operate, can easily be a cover-up,” Bentil said. He emphasized that Ghana’s past reputation in the global drug trade, which once led to the country being blacklisted, means such issues must be handled with caution and transparency.
He argued that Rev. Fordjour’s concerns should not be dismissed or attacked. Instead, the MP should be considered a whistleblower and treated with the necessary legal protections. Bentil stressed that protecting individuals who raise red flags is critical to uncovering the truth in sensitive matters such as this.
Drawing from personal experience, Bentil recalled the backlash he faced after speaking out about the Achimota Forest land issue, noting that he too was threatened with arrest for allegedly spreading false information. This, he said, highlights a broader issue of how whistleblowers and civil society voices are often treated when they challenge powerful interests or government narratives.
In light of these concerns, Bentil called on the government to take the allegations seriously and conduct a thorough, transparent investigation instead of quickly labeling the claims as baseless.
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