The Kwabenya Circuit Court in Accra on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, refused bail to six people charged over the alleged export of about 3.9 tonnes of suspected cocaine from Tema Port to France.
The presiding judge, His Honour Prince Osei Owusu, ordered that all six remain in custody and adjourned the case to October 20, 2026.
The accused are Francis Narh Amanor, listed as the exporter of the containers; Frank Adu-Boahen, the alleged owner of the goods; and four staff of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) – Togbe Agbeti, Andrews Tetteh Amponsah, Daniel Laryea and Helena Akua Denkyi.
Tuesday’s ruling was on a renewed bail application. The six were first remanded after their initial appearance before the same court on September 17, 2026.
3.9-Tonne Cocaine Case: Kwabenya Court Denies Bail to Six Accused, Adjourns to October 20 [VIDEO]
The case has drawn national attention, with Parliament recalled from recess to discuss the seizure. Read more on why Parliament was recalled over the 3.9-tonne cocaine seizure linked to Ghana.
Why the Kwabenya court denied bail in the cocaine case
Judge Prince Osei Owusu said the court considered two key questions: whether the accused would turn up to stand trial, and whether they could interfere with proceedings.
He held that, given the nature and seriousness of the alleged offence, the accused should remain in custody. According to 3News, the judge said the prosecution had proven the grounds for bail to be refused.
Lawyers for the accused had argued that their clients had cooperated with investigators, were committed to appearing for trial, and had health needs that justified release. The court directed the prosecution to arrange medical visits for the accused where necessary.
Charges against the six accused
The accused face charges including:
- Conspiracy to export narcotic drugs
- Exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence
- Abetment of the exportation of narcotic drugs (against the four GRA Customs staff)
How the 3.9 tonnes of cocaine left Tema Port
Prosecutors say four 40-foot containers were loaded at a warehouse in Tema and shipped out of Tema Port. The containers were later intercepted in France, where the suspected cocaine was found.
The prosecution alleges that scan images of the containers at Tema Port showed abnormalities that should have led to a physical examination, but the containers were cleared for export.
The four Customs officers are accused of scanning the containers, identifying anomalies, and failing to report them. Mr Adu-Boahen is alleged to have shared login credentials with others for scan-image analysis.
Investigators say Mr Amanor, a freight forwarder and Managing Director of Fresna Commodities Ltd, admitted handling the export and named Mr Adu-Boahen as the owner of the shipment.
Key figures in the Ghana cocaine shipment case
- Quantity: about 3.9 tonnes of suspected cocaine
- Reported value: €225 million, according to reports on the French seizure
- Containers: four 40-foot containers
- Accused before the court: six (two private individuals, four GRA Customs staff)
- First court appearance: September 17, 2026
- Bail ruling: September 29, 2026
- Next hearing: October 20, 2026
What the bail ruling means for the accused and GRA Customs
The six accused will stay in custody for at least three more weeks, until the next hearing on October 20.
For the Ghana Revenue Authority, the case keeps attention on container scanning and clearance procedures at Tema Port, since four of the accused are Customs staff.
The case has also raised wider questions about Ghana’s port security and its reputation as a transit point for narcotics. The Minority in Parliament has demanded full data on narcotics seizures and arrests since 2025.
What happens next in the cocaine trial
The case returns to the Kwabenya Circuit Court on October 20, 2026. Investigations into the shipment are continuing.
Cases involving narcotics exports fall under Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission regime. More on the country’s drug control framework is available from the Narcotics Control Commission.
Key details at a glance
- Court: Kwabenya Circuit Court, Accra
- Judge: His Honour Prince Osei Owusu
- Ruling: Bail denied to all six accused on September 29, 2026
- Accused: Francis Narh Amanor, Frank Adu-Boahen, Togbe Agbeti, Andrews Tetteh Amponsah, Daniel Laryea, Helena Akua Denkyi
- Shipment: about 3.9 tonnes of suspected cocaine in four containers from Tema Port, intercepted in France
- Main allegation: scan anomalies at Tema Port were not flagged before clearance
- Next hearing: October 20, 2026
FAQs
Why were the six accused in the 3.9-tonne cocaine case denied bail?
The judge said the offence was serious and the court was concerned the accused might not appear for trial or could interfere with proceedings. He ruled that they remain in custody.
Who are the GRA officers charged in the Ghana cocaine case?
They are Togbe Agbeti, Andrews Tetteh Amponsah, Daniel Laryea and Helena Akua Denkyi, all staff of the GRA Customs Division. They are accused of failing to report anomalies found when the containers were scanned.
When is the next court date for the 3.9-tonne cocaine case?
The Kwabenya Circuit Court adjourned the case to October 20, 2026.
The Kwabenya Circuit Court’s refusal to grant bail keeps all six accused in the 3.9-tonne cocaine export case in custody until October 20, 2026, as investigations continue into how four containers allegedly carrying the drugs were cleared at Tema Port before being intercepted in France.
