The Minority in Ghana's Parliament has expressed disappointment and vowed to pursue a parliamentary inquiry into recent narcotics seizures linked to Ghana, after Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected their motion. The motion, filed by First Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, sought to establish an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate major narcotics seizures, including nearly 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine seized by French Customs at Dunkirk on September 10, 2026.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated that the Speaker erred in relying on ongoing criminal proceedings to determine the scope and manner of the proposed parliamentary inquiry. He emphasized that the motion did not seek to try any accused person or determine criminal liability, but rather to examine the roles of relevant companies and state agencies, as well as the adequacy of Ghana's security systems.
The proposed committee was expected to investigate how the consignments were processed, inspected, cleared, and exported from Ghana, including the ports from which they departed, and the intelligence profiling, scanning, physical inspection, and customs procedures applied. The Minority argued that the scale of the seizures warrants scrutiny of Ghana's port security, customs controls, intelligence gathering, and narcotics enforcement systems.
Afenyo-Markin accused the Majority of being unwilling to subject the matter to parliamentary scrutiny, describing the government's 24-hour economy policy as having turned into "24-hour cocaine." He warned that limiting Parliament's oversight role could weaken institutional checks on executive power, adding that a supermajority must never become an excuse to weaken the minority or silence scrutiny.
The Majority supported the Speaker's ruling, after which Parliament was adjourned until further notice. Afenyo-Markin stated that the Minority would use options available under the Constitution and Parliament's Standing Orders to keep the issue before the public, and would brief Ghanaians on its next steps at the appropriate time.
The Minority Leader described the Speaker's ruling as a setback for parliamentary oversight, alleging that it reflected the government's concerns about its own record. He characterized the ruling as having failed the integrity test required of Parliament to discharge its duty, and vowed that the Minority would not abandon its demand for accountability.
The issue has sparked concerns about the effectiveness of Ghana's security systems and the need for parliamentary scrutiny. The Minority's push for an inquiry has been met with resistance from the Majority, highlighting the challenges of holding the government accountable in Ghana's Parliament. Key points include:
Key points
- The Speaker's ruling has been criticized by the Minority as a setback for parliamentary oversight.
- The Minority is vowing to pursue the matter through every legitimate avenue.
- The issue has sparked concerns about the effectiveness of Ghana's security systems and the need for parliamentary scrutiny.
