Ghana, Netherlands Partner to Protect Kotoka Airport from Drug trafficking |
By Dominick Andoh
Ghana has taken a major step toward tightening security at its main gateway, Kotoka International Airport (KIA), with a new funding agreement from the Government of the Netherlands to procure modern full-body scanners to combat narcotics trafficking.
The support, formally handed over in Accra, is part of a renewed partnership between the two nations to curb transnational organised crime and prevent Ghana from becoming a growing transit hub for the international drug trade.
The agreement was presented during a ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel, following the closing of the two-day High-Level Dialogue on Drug Markets in West Africa.
Present at the event were the Netherlands Minister for Justice and Security, Hon. Foort van Oosten; Ghana’s Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak; Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; as well as senior officials from both countries.
The Dutch funding will enable the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to replace its aging scanning systems at KIA with new full-body scanners designed to boost the detection of concealed narcotics on passengers and within luggage.
Officials say the upgrade is crucial as traffickers increasingly target West African airports as transit points due to gaps in screening capacity.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Ghana, Interior Minister Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak expressed appreciation for the Dutch assistance, describing it as timely support that will “significantly enhance Ghana’s capability to detect and deter narcotics trafficking at the country’s busiest airport.”
He assured that the new scanners would be deployed strategically and “put to good use” to strengthen national security and protect Ghana’s international reputation.
Various security analysts have repeatedly warned that West Africa is becoming an attractive corridor for drug cartels transporting cocaine and other narcotics to Europe and North America. Aviation hubs within the subregion, including Kotoka International Airport, have been under pressure to improve surveillance and screening technology to curb the trend.
The latest cooperation between Ghana and the Netherlands underscores a shared commitment to fighting organised crime. Dutch Minister Foort van Oosten highlighted the importance of collective action, noting that drug trafficking remains a global threat requiring “strong partnerships between countries.”
With the new scanners expected to be procured in the coming months, officials believe the strengthened screening regime at KIA will deter traffickers and reinforce Ghana’s position as a secure aviation hub in West Africa.
