The Minority in Ghana's Parliament has filed a motion seeking a review of Speaker Alban Bagbin's ruling that declared inadmissible its proposed parliamentary inquiry into drug trafficking through Ghana. The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, stated that pending criminal cases should not prevent Parliament from investigating possible lapses in the country's port security, cargo inspection, and border control systems. This move comes after the Speaker ruled the motion out of order on September 29, 2026.
The motion was filed by the First Deputy Whip, Habib Iddrisu, under Standing Order 127, challenging the Speaker's ruling. Afenyo-Markin emphasized that the application for a review was not an attempt to undermine the authority of the Speaker, but rather to ensure accountability. He maintained that criminal prosecutions and institutional oversight were separate responsibilities and that pending trials should not prevent Parliament from examining the operations of public institutions.
The Speaker's ruling was based on the sub judice principle, which restricts discussions of matters pending before the courts. The cases involve about 21 persons in four separate narcotics-related prosecutions. Afenyo-Markin cited several instances of cocaine seizures linked to Ghana, including the seizure of approximately 3.9 tonnes of cocaine by French authorities at the Port of Dunkirk on September 7, 2026.
The Minority Leader warned that repeated seizures of consignments linked to Ghana in foreign jurisdictions could damage the country's reputation in international trade and increase operating costs for legitimate businesses. He added that increased inspections could result in delays, storage charges, disrupted deliveries, and higher compliance costs for exporters. This, he stated, could weaken the confidence in the integrity of Ghana's export controls.
Afenyo-Markin emphasized that Parliament had a responsibility to establish whether port security arrangements, cargo inspection procedures, customs controls, and intelligence coordination were functioning properly. He stressed that an arrest was not a conviction and that a pending criminal trial did not suspend administrative accountability. The Minority Leader called on the government to act to protect the country's reputation and young people.
The Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business, James Agalga, stated that the Majority was prepared to engage the Minority if the application for a review was admitted. He challenged the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to defend its record in the fight against narcotics. Agalga expressed readiness for a debate, stating that the good people of Ghana would know whose track record was better.
The outcome of the motion and the proposed parliamentary inquiry remains to be seen. The Minority's efforts to push for an investigation into cocaine seizures linked to Ghana have sparked a debate on the balance between parliamentary oversight and the sub judice principle. As the situation unfolds, stakeholders will be watching closely to see how the issue is resolved and what implications it may have for Ghana's port security and international trade reputation.
Key points
- The Minority in Ghana's Parliament has filed a motion seeking a review of Speaker Alban Bagbin's ruling on a proposed probe into cocaine seizures linked to Ghana.
- The motion challenges the Speaker's ruling that declared the proposed inquiry inadmissible due to pending criminal cases.
- The issue has sparked a debate on the balance between parliamentary oversight and the sub judice principle.
