Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has challenged Speaker Alban Bagbin’s decision to dismiss a motion seeking a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana.
The Speaker, on Tuesday, September 29, ruled the motion inadmissible, citing concerns that the proposed inquiry could overlap with criminal matters currently before the courts and potentially interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings.
But Mr Afenyo-Markin disagreed with the reasoning, arguing that pending court cases should not prevent Parliament from investigating wider institutional and systemic issues surrounding the narcotics seizures.
According to him, the existence of criminal proceedings should not be used to limit Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.
“Mr. Speaker, therefore, got it wrong by using existing pending criminal proceedings to determine the scope and manner of the inquiry,” he said.
The Minority Leader maintained that the proposed parliamentary inquiry was not intended to interfere with the courts or determine the guilt or innocence of individuals facing prosecution.
Rather, he said, the inquiry was aimed at examining how state institutions handled the processing, inspection, clearance and export of narcotics consignments linked to Ghana.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority would continue to pursue the matter, stressing that effective parliamentary scrutiny remains important to Ghana’s democratic system.
“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.”
He further warned that weakening Parliament’s oversight function could have implications for accountability within state institutions.
“When Parliament is weakened, our accountability is weakened, and the institutions of state are left with fewer checks on the exercise of power,” he said.
The motion, filed on September 28 by First Deputy Minority Whip and Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu, sought the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding major narcotics consignments processed through Ghana.
Among the incidents cited was the seizure of 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine at France’s Port of Dunkirk on September 10, 2026.
The motion also referenced the seizure of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine by the Australian Border Force in June 2026.
However, Speaker Bagbin said the proposed terms of reference could compel Parliament to consider evidence, witnesses, conduct and questions of responsibility that were directly connected to matters pending before the courts.
He consequently ruled the private members’ motion inadmissible under Standing Orders 5, 6 and 103, Sub-Rule F.
The ruling effectively prevents the proposed parliamentary inquiry from proceeding in its current form, although the Minority has indicated that it intends to continue pursuing the matter.
