By Francis Kobena Tandoh
The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin erred in dismissing the Minority’s motion for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana.
According to Afenyo-Markin, the ongoing criminal proceedings should not prevent Parliament from examining broader institutional and systemic issues surrounding the seizures. He says the Minority will continue to pursue the matter, stressing Parliament’s oversight role.
The Minority Leader said Parliament’s oversight responsibilities should not be weakened by pending cases, arguing that the proposed inquiry was intended to examine public institutions and systems rather than replace the work of the courts.
“Mr. Speaker, therefore, got it wrong by using existing pending criminal proceedings to determine the scope and manner of the inquiry,” said Afenyo-Markin.
He said the Minority would continue to pursue the matter, stressing that effective parliamentary oversight was essential to Ghana’s democracy.
“The image of our country is on trial,” he said.
“We, the minority, we’ll proceed on this path because democracy requires a strong Parliament. A strong Parliament requires an effective minority. A super-majority must never become an excuse to weaken the minority, silence scrutiny, or diminish Parliament’s duty to oversight.”
The Minority, led by First Deputy Minority Whip and Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu filed a motion on September 28 seeking the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate how major narcotics consignments were processed, inspected, cleared and exported from Ghana.
The incidents cited included the seizure of 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine at France’s Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026, and the seizure of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine by the Australian Border Force in June 2026.
However, Mr Bagbin said the proposed inquiry could require Parliament to examine evidence, witnesses, conduct and questions of responsibility directly connected to matters before the courts. He consequently ruled the private members’ motion inadmissible under Standing Orders 5, 6 and 103, Sub-Rule F. Enditem
Source: Ghana Eye Report
