Minority to pursue alternative route for narcotics probe after Speaker’s ruling

The Minority in Parliament says it will explore another constitutional and parliamentary avenue to push for an inquiry into major narcotics consignments linked to Ghana.

The decision comes after Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected the Minority’s motion seeking a bipartisan investigation into recent drug seizures at Tuesday’s emergency sitting.

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the caucus would not allow the matter to end with the Speaker’s ruling, insisting that Parliament still has mechanisms to scrutinise the issue.

He said the Minority would invoke provisions of the 1992 Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Orders to bring the narcotics issue back to the forefront.

“We say that we are left with another option, we would exercise an option within the Constitution and our own standing orders in ensuring that this narcotic issue, which has gotten out of hand and has gotten Ghana to gain notoriety as a transshipment point of narcotics back onto the front burner. We will not let this matter rest,” he said.

Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority would use Parliament’s oversight powers to examine how narcotics consignments are handled and assess the role of state institutions in preventing Ghana from becoming a transit hub for illegal drugs.

He also questioned the interpretation and application of Parliament’s Standing Orders in the Speaker’s ruling, arguing that all public institutions must operate within the confines of the law.

“No agency is above the Constitution, no public institution should exercise power outside the law, and that, Mr. Speaker, must read carefully the standing orders when coming to a conclusion in a sensitive motion such as what we filed,” he said.

The motion, filed by First Deputy Minority Whip and Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu, called for the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the processing, inspection, clearance and export of major narcotics consignments from Ghana.

It cited the seizure of 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine by French Customs at Dunkirk on September 10, 2026, as well as the seizure of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine by the Australian Border Force in June 2026.

The motion also referred to earlier cocaine interceptions in Takoradi and Pedu in Cape Coast.

However, Mr Bagbin rejected the proposed inquiry, arguing that it substantially overlapped with matters currently before the courts and could prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings.

The Minority disagrees with that position, maintaining that its proposed investigation was intended to examine the performance and accountability of public institutions and not determine the criminal liability of individuals whose cases are before the courts.