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Fact-Check Ghana Report: Claims and Counterclaims on Alleged Cocaine Flights — What the Flight Logs Reveal
Ghana’s political landscape has been shaken by a serious allegation from the Minority Caucus in Parliament.
In a press conference held last week, the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, claimed that two aircraft—an air ambulance and a cargo jet—were used to traffic cocaine and foreign currency into the country in March 2025.
This explosive claim, swiftly denied by Government Communications Minister Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has since led to a flurry of media reports and public speculation.
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In response, Fact-Check Ghana has examined open-source flight data to independently verify the details surrounding the alleged aircraft and their movements.
Alleged Aircraft Involved
- AirMed Flight N823AM (Hawker 800XP Air Ambulance)
- Antonov An-12B Cargo Plane (Operated by Cavok Air, Reg. CVK7037)
AirMed Flight N823AM — The Key Allegation
According to Rev. Fordjour, AirMed N823AM, described as an air ambulance “specifically designed to carry patients,” landed in Ghana on March 20, 2025 and stayed at Kotoka International Airport for five days without transporting any patients.
The MP claimed it was instead carrying cocaine and foreign currency, raising concerns about Ghana’s aviation and security protocols.
Flight Data Confirms Arrival & Departure
Based on records from FlightAware, the flight log of AirMed N823AM supports Rev. Fordjour’s timeline:
| Date | Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18-03-25 | Birmingham (US) | St. John’s (Canada) | 7:00PM | 1:37AM (+1) |
| 19-03-25 | St. John’s | Santa Maria (Portugal) | 2:38AM | 7:15AM |
| 19-03-25 | Santa Maria | Gran Canaria (Spain) | 7:51AM | 10:41AM |
| 20-03-25 | Gran Canaria | Kotoka Int’l (Ghana) | 4:59AM | 9:02AM |
| 25-03-25 | Kotoka Int’l | Gran Canaria | 1:02AM | 5:13AM |
✔️ Confirmed: Flight landed and departed on the claimed dates.
❌ No public evidence of cargo contents (cocaine or money).
Minister Felix Ofosu Kwakye, while refuting the allegations, stated that the flight came “via Luanda, Angola.” However, flight records do not support this. The logs show a direct route from Gran Canaria to Accra, with no stop in Luanda.
✔️ Fact-Check Verdict: False — No stop in Luanda per verified flight path.
According to Mr. Kwakye, AirMed N864AM was sent to Ghana with materials to fix the faulty N823AM.
Verified flight logs show:
- March 22, 2025, 5:44 AM — Arrived in Ghana from Gran Canaria
- Flew to Luanda later that morning
- Continued to Johannesburg, South Africa
- Returned to Ghana on March 23, 2025, 12:15 AM
- Departed again on March 24, 2025, 1:20 AM to Gran Canaria
✔️ Confirmed: Flight made two landings in Ghana, not one as previously claimed.
The second major aircraft at the center of the claims is the Antonov An-12B, said to be operated by Cavok Air.
- Rev. Fordjour alleged it landed on March 12, 2025, and remained in Ghana until March 25.
- Minister Kwakye referred to flight CVK7037 and noted it had engine and oil leakage problems, with a backup plane CVK7007 brought in to carry the cargo.
Flight tracking challenges:
-
- No data available for CVK7037 on public platforms after December 2024.
- CVK7007 was tracked landing in Accra on March 15, 2025, from Harare, Zimbabwe — partially supporting the government’s claim.
Lack of flight data for private cargo jets is not unusual, particularly for chartered military or diplomatic flights.
| Claim/Statement | Verdict | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AirMed N823AM landed in Accra March 20–25 | ✅ True | Fully supported by flight logs |
| Flight passed through Luanda before Accra | ❌ False | Logs show direct flight from Gran Canaria |
| N823AM was carrying drugs or money | ❓ Unverified | No evidence in public domain |
| N864AM brought repair materials | ✅ True | Flight path confirms two landings in Ghana |
| Antonov CVK7037 landed in Accra March 12 | ❓ Unverified | No public flight data; neither proven nor disproven |
| CVK7007 arrived to carry cargo | ✅ Partially | Landed in Accra March 15, supports part of gov’t narrative |
The verified flight data confirms key timelines alleged by Rev. Fordjour, particularly regarding the AirMed N823AM air ambulance. However, cargo contents remain unknown, and Luanda stop claims by the government are not supported by data.
Calls for an independent investigation and greater transparency appear justified, as public confidence in the state’s aviation and security oversight hangs in the balance.
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