Bagbin rejects Minority motion for probe into narcotics seizures

By: Eugene Dogbatse Atsu
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has dismissed the Minority’s motion seeking a parliamentary inquiry into recent narcotics seizures linked to Ghana, citing ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings.

The ruling was delivered during Parliament’s emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, after the Minority called for a probe into a series of high-profile drug seizures connected to consignments believed to have originated from Ghana.

The Minority had sought the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the seizures and assess the effectiveness of the country’s anti-narcotics enforcement systems.

Explaining his decision, Mr. Bagbin said Parliament must be careful not to undertake actions that could interfere with ongoing investigations or future court proceedings.

“The matters raised in the motion are currently under investigation by the appropriate state institutions, and some may eventually become the subject of criminal proceedings before the courts,” he said.

He added that allowing a parliamentary inquiry at this stage could create challenges for investigators and potentially prejudice the outcome of cases that may arise from the seizures.

“Parliament must exercise restraint and avoid any action that may compromise the work of investigative agencies or the administration of justice,” he stated.

The Minority had argued that the reported narcotics interceptions raised concerns about Ghana’s security architecture, port controls and the effectiveness of agencies responsible for combating drug trafficking.

According to the Minority, a parliamentary inquiry would have helped establish the facts surrounding the seizures, identify possible lapses and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

However, Mr. Bagbin maintained that the House must respect the constitutional mandate of investigative and law enforcement bodies.

“Those institutions must be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without undue interference. Parliament should not be seen to be pre-empting their findings,” he said.