Bagbin adjourns Parliament indefinitely after ruling on narcotics probe

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has adjourned the sitting of the House until further notice, shortly after ruling against a Minority motion seeking a parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics consignments linked to Ghana.

The motion sought the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the handling of major narcotics consignments, including their processing, inspection, clearance and export from Ghana.

Mr Bagbin ruled that the proposed inquiry substantially overlapped with ongoing criminal proceedings and could prejudice the interests of parties involved in the cases before the courts.

“Accordingly, I am of the considered opinion that permitting the motion to proceed in its present form as presented by a Leader of the House at this particular time may prejudice the interests of parties to pending judicial proceedings,” he said.

The Speaker consequently ruled, pursuant to Parliament’s Standing Orders, that the private member’s motion was inadmissible.

Following the ruling, Mr Bagbin adjourned the sitting of the House until further notice.