Minority Petitions Diplomatic Corps Over ‘Suspicious Flights’, Seeks International Support

The Minority in Parliament has officially appealed to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, H.E. Maher Kheir—who also serves as Lebanon’s Ambassador to Ghana—for international assistance in probing alleged suspicious flights that recently landed at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

In a statement dated Tuesday, April 8, 2025, and signed by the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Minority urged diplomatic missions to collaborate with Ghanaian authorities in investigating two AirMed flights and a Cavok Air cargo plane suspected of transporting illicit drugs and money into the country from Gran Canaria.

The request follows a press conference held by the Minority on April 1, during which they raised alarm over national security concerns and demanded thorough investigations into the alleged landings.

Although President John Mahama has directed relevant state institutions to investigate the matter, the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, downplayed the seriousness of the issue, calling the inquiry “a waste of time.”

In contrast to the Minister’s claim that the AirMed flights originated from Luanda, the Minority insists that independent checks show the aircraft flew in from Gran Canaria. They also noted inconsistencies in the reported flight history of the Cavok cargo plane.

“The ambiguity and unanswered questions surrounding these flights demand credible and transparent investigations,” the statement stressed, referencing Ghana’s commitments to international treaties such as the UN Convention against Illicit Drug Trafficking and the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.

The Minority also cited Ghana’s own anti-drug and anti-money laundering laws—including the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044)—emphasizing the country’s obligation to take decisive action.

To strengthen the investigation, the Minority proposed five key actions from the Diplomatic Community:

1. Share intelligence on the aircraft and related flights with Ghanaian security agencies;
2. Facilitate cooperation between foreign and local security institutions;
3. Assist Parliament in protecting Ghana’s global image from being tarnished as a drug transit hub;
4. Encourage the government to establish a Commission of Inquiry under Article 278 of the Constitution;
5. Monitor the independence of Parliament and ensure the protection of whistleblowers like Hon. John Ntim Fordjour.

The Minority’s petition underscores a call for urgent global cooperation to defend Ghana’s integrity and bolster efforts to combat transnational crime.