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A private legal practitioner, Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Mahama administration’s handling of recent allegations involving two suspicious aircraft that reportedly landed at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) with possible links to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The allegations were first raised by the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who claimed the aircraft—AirMed Flight N823AM and Cavok Air Antonov An-12B—carried cocaine and large sums of cash into Ghana.
Brako-Powers, in a Facebook post, criticized the government’s reaction to the issue, describing it as “disappointing” and marked by unwarranted attacks on the whistleblower.
“John Dramani Mahama’s government’s handling of Rev. John Ntim Fordjour’s flight allegation is disappointing. The repeated insults and attacks on the personality of the legislator showed Mahama is not ready to get to the bottom of the issue despite his initial call for probe,” he wrote. “The insults from government officials must cease if we want to address the issue.”
He emphasized that matters involving drug smuggling and money laundering are of national and international concern and must be addressed with urgency and seriousness.
“But I don’t see that seriousness with the insults being traded around,” he continued. “You can’t dismiss Ntim Fordjour’s allegations without any credible evidence to the contrary. This media clearance is a faint attempt to sweep the issue under the carpet.”
Brako-Powers further called on international bodies such as the World Bank and UNICEF Ghana to intervene and pressure the government to conduct a thorough investigation.
President John Dramani Mahama had earlier ordered an immediate probe by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and the National Security Coordinator.
However, critics say more decisive and transparent action is needed.
Joining the chorus of calls for accountability, another private legal practitioner and member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kow Essuman, urged the government to refrain from politicizing the matter. He singled out the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, urging him and other communicators to “stop the name-calling” and address the core of the issue.
“These are serious allegations that demand clear, fact-based responses, not personal attacks,” Essuman said.
Rev. Ntim Fordjour, the originator of the claims, has called for a public briefing from the government regarding the cargo and operations of the two aircraft. According to him, Ghanaians deserve full transparency on any potential criminal activity involving the use of national airspace and airports.
As pressure mounts, observers await the findings of the ongoing investigations, while legal and civil society voices demand a more respectful, evidence-based, and accountable approach from the government.