Journalist and political commentator Charles McCarthy clashed with NPP MP Rev John Ntim Fordjour during a heated discussion on cocaine trafficking through Ghana’s ports.

The confrontation occurred on Peace FM’s Kokrokoo on September 23, 2026, where the two were discussing the growing transit of narcotics from Ghana to international destinations.

McCarthy, also Managing Editor of The Hawk newspaper, argued that Ghana cannot eliminate drug trafficking because it lacks the sophisticated equipment and intelligence capabilities needed to detect and intercept every shipment.

“We are a country that is struggling and don’t have anything; countries that have all the sophisticated machines and equipment with the intelligence, still drugs pass through, so there is no way that we can fight it completely but just that we can minimise it,” he said.

The discussion became tense after McCarthy alleged that some MPs could be benefiting from money generated through cocaine trafficking.

“The money involved in the cocaine smuggling; some of the MPs are part, and most of them have their price in this country,” he alleged.

Ntim Fordjour interrupted him, saying, “When a journalist talks like this…”

The comment angered McCarthy, who warned the MP that he would respond if he felt disrespected.

“Honourable, I can be rough. I want to put the respect I have for you down. I can be very rough. With all due respect, you must conduct yourself as an honourable Member of Parliament, or I take you on, and the public will be our judge,” he said.

McCarthy then challenged Ntim Fordjour to provide evidence for allegations he had previously made about drug trafficking and a controversial aircraft claim.

“What have you people done? In this country, you blew a whistle and have you been able to provide circumstantial evidence? You, sitting down as an MP, after making noise about the plane, did you bring evidence?” he asked.

“An embarrassing person like you, did you bring evidence? A Member of Parliament like you, did you bring evidence?” McCarthy added.

Ntim Fordjour responded: “If we have a journalist who comes and sits here and talks like this and says everyone has a price…”

McCarthy then fired back: “You have to be stupid to think that you are somebody. He is not better than me; it is an opportunity that he has.”