Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has recalled the House from recess to sit on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, amid growing concerns over a series of major narcotics seizures linked to consignments from Ghana. The sitting will begin at 12 noon at Parliament House in Accra. According to a notice issued by the Office of the Speaker on Thursday, September 24, the recall follows a request by the Minority in Parliament for an extraordinary sitting to examine urgent national security concerns.
The Minority had invoked Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of Parliament’s Standing Orders, arguing that the scale of the incidents required Parliament’s immediate oversight. They cited several cases, including the seizure by French authorities of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026, from a container that had departed Ghana. This and other seizures since 2025 collectively involve consignments worth more than US$1 billion.
The Minority wants Parliament to examine how the shipments were processed, inspected, and cleared, as well as the roles played by relevant state and security agencies. They have called for officials from institutions including the Narcotics Control Commission, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, and National Intelligence Bureau, as well as relevant Ministers, to account to Parliament. The proposed recall has generated differing views among MPs.
Some Majority lawmakers argue that the ongoing investigations should be allowed to proceed, with parliamentary committees already having the mandate to scrutinise matters relating to the drug seizures. Wa West MP and Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Peter Lanchene Toobu, questioned the need for a full parliamentary recall, saying existing committees could undertake the necessary oversight while the House remained on recess.
South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor described the recall demand as misplaced, arguing that Parliament should not duplicate investigations being conducted by agencies mandated to deal with narcotics offences. The debate highlights the complexities and challenges in addressing national security concerns through parliamentary oversight.
The recall of Parliament demonstrates the urgency with which lawmakers are approaching the issue of narcotics seizures linked to Ghana. With the sitting scheduled for September 29, Parliament is expected to engage in detailed discussions and examinations of the roles of various agencies and officials in the processing and clearance of the consignments.
The outcome of the parliamentary sitting could have significant implications for the oversight of national security and the fight against narcotics trafficking in Ghana. Key issues to be addressed include the effectiveness of current regulations and the coordination among different state and security agencies in preventing such large-scale narcotics seizures.
Key points
- The recall of Parliament aims to address urgent national security concerns related to major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana.
- The Minority in Parliament invoked Article 112(3) of the 1992 Constitution and Order 53 of Parliament’s Standing Orders to request an extraordinary sitting.
- The parliamentary sitting scheduled for September 29 will examine the roles of various agencies and officials in the processing and clearance of the consignments.
