Minority Petitions Diplomatic Community Over Gran Canaria Flights Scandal

The Minority Caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has officially petitioned the Diplomatic Community in Ghana to intervene and assist in unravelling the growing controversy surrounding the alleged illicit flights from Gran Canaria to Ghana.

The petition, signed by Samuel Abu Jinapor, Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, was addressed to the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Lebanese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Maher Kheir.

This move follows the Minority’s recent press conference on April 1, 2025, where they raised alarm over security concerns in the country — particularly the controversial landing of AirMed and Cavok Air flights allegedly carrying suspected illicit goods and cash at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

According to Mr. Jinapor, their independent checks have since confirmed that the AirMed flights in question indeed flew directly from Gran Canaria to Accra, contrary to claims by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who stated that the flights originated from Luanda.

The Minority also questioned the activity history of the referenced Cavok flights, alleging discrepancies in the official accounts provided so far.

Calls for Diplomatic Intervention

The Minority is urging the Diplomatic Community to collaborate with Ghana’s security and intelligence agencies to ensure a thorough investigation into the matter. Specifically, Mr. Jinapor called on the diplomatic corps to:

1. Share any intelligence they may have on the aircraft and flights concerned.
2. Facilitate the deployment of their respective countries’ security apparatus to collaborate with Ghanaian authorities.
3. Assist Parliament and the State in preventing Ghana from gaining a reputation as a drug transit state.
4. Encourage the Government of Ghana to establish a Commission of Inquiry under Article 278 of the 1992 Constitution to investigate the alleged illicit flights.
5. Ensure the protection of the independence of Parliament and the safety of whistleblowers, particularly Hon. John Ntim Fordjour, MP for Assin South, who is said to have provided crucial information.

Urgent Need for Action

Mr. Jinapor stressed that Ghana, as a respected member of the international community and a signatory to several international conventions against transnational organised crime, must take these allegations seriously.

He cited Ghana’s obligations under international treaties, including the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and various laws such as the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), and the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2020 (Act 1044), as critical frameworks for dealing with such incidents.

“The fight against transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking and money laundering, requires international collaboration,” Mr. Jinapor said, adding that failure to act decisively could have serious political, economic, and diplomatic repercussions for Ghana.

The Minority has therefore called for transparent investigations, prosecution where necessary, and a concerted effort to prevent Ghana from becoming a transit point for illicit drugs and money laundering.

This latest development adds another layer to the growing calls from civil society organisations, security experts, and international bodies, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), for a full-scale investigation into the Gran Canaria flights saga.

The Minority insists that action on this matter is urgent and consequential for both national and international security.