On September 29, Majority Leader James Agalga stated that the Minority's motion to investigate recent cocaine busts is premature. He argued that investigations by state agencies are ongoing and some cases are already before the courts. According to Agalga, the Standing Orders of Parliament bar the House from intervening in matters under active investigation. He made these comments on TV3's Ghana Tonight.
Agalga expressed concern that the Minority Leader did not consider the legal and procedural implications of requesting Parliament to investigate matters pending before the courts. He noted that criminal investigations are the responsibility of designated state institutions. These institutions should be allowed to complete their investigations before Parliament considers further action.
The Minority had filed a motion to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate high-profile narcotics seizures in Ghana and abroad. The motion, filed by First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, cited several incidents, including the seizure of 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine by French Customs at Dunkirk on September 10, 2026. The seized cocaine was valued at $261 million.
However, Speaker Alban Bagbin dismissed the motion, describing it as inadmissible under several Standing Orders. The Speaker's decision was based on the fact that investigations were already underway and some cases were before the courts. Agalga maintained that initiating a parliamentary investigation at this stage would be premature.
Agalga emphasized that Parliament should not intervene in matters that are still under investigation. He stressed that the Standing Orders of Parliament are clear on this matter, especially when investigations could prejudice the outcome of court decisions. The Builsa North MP highlighted the importance of allowing state agencies to complete their investigations.
The recent cocaine busts have raised concerns about the handling of narcotics investigations in Ghana. The Minority's motion aimed to probe alleged lapses in the handling of these investigations. However, with the Speaker's dismissal and Agalga's comments, it appears that Parliament will not intervene at this stage.
The state investigative agencies will continue to work on the cases, and some suspects will face court proceedings. The outcome of these investigations and court cases will likely determine the next course of action. For now, the parliamentary probe into the cocaine busts has been put on hold.
Key points
- The Majority Leader, James Agalga, has described the Minority's motion for a parliamentary probe into recent cocaine busts as premature.
- The motion was dismissed by Speaker Alban Bagbin as inadmissible under several Standing Orders.
- The investigations by state agencies will continue, and some cases are already before the courts.
