Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has formally petitioned the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Maher Kheir, to intervene in the unfolding Gran Canaria flights scandal.
The Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Abu Jinapor, acting on behalf of the Minority side, submitted the request on April 8, 2025, urging the Diplomatic Corps to leverage diplomatic channels to support Ghanaian security and intelligence agencies in unraveling the said controversy.
As part of their petition, the Minority Caucus called on the Diplomatic Community in Ghana to:
1. Share with the Ghanaian security authorities any intelligence they may have on the aircrafts and flights concerned;
2. Facilitate the deployment of the security apparatus of their respective countries to collaborate with the Ghanaian security authorities in any future investigations;
3. Assist the Ghanaian State, through her arms of Government, generally, and Parliament in particular, to avoid the undesirable, unenvious and dangerous reputation of a drug State;
4. Encourage, through diplomatic channels, the Ghanaian Government to establish, pursuant to article 278 of Ghana’s Constitution, a Commission of Inquiry to make a full, faithful and impartial inquiry into the matter of the flights allegedly carrying illicit drugs and money; and
5. Take keen interest in the protection of the independence of Ghana’s Parliament in the exercise of its oversight responsibility, and most especially, the safety and protection of the whistleblower, the Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, Member of Parliament for Assin South, and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, as well as other Members of Parliament, in the sacred discharge of their duties as Members of Parliament.
This follows a press conference by the Minority on April 1, 2025, during which they raised alarm over serious security concerns, particularly the controversial arrival of AirMed and Cavok Air flights at Kotoka International Airport (KIA), which were allegedly carrying illicit cargo including drugs and money.
The matter drew national attention, prompting President Mahama to direct state investigative agencies to probe the issue.
The move was welcomed by many Ghanaians, security experts, and members of the international community, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), who echoed the need for a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus stressed that Ghana must remain above reproach in the global fight against organised crime.
“Ghana, as a respected member of the international community, must continue to act above board, and collaborate with the rest of the world to combat transnational organised crimes, particularly, trafficking of illicit drugs and money laundering. Action in this matter urgent and consequential for national and international security.” the statement concluded.
MA