The Majority Leader, James Agalga, has called the Minority’s push for a parliamentary probe into recent cocaine busts premature, given that investigations by state agencies are still underway.
Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight on Tuesday, September 29, Agalga said that Parliament’s Standing Orders prevent the House from intervening in matters under active investigation. He pointed out that some related cases are already before the courts.
“Maybe the Minority Leader has not adverted his mind to the fact that we don’t have the competence to carry out criminal investigations,” Agalga said. He stressed that criminal investigations fall under the responsibility of designated state institutions and should be allowed to proceed without parliamentary interference.
“So whilst the agencies of state which are statutorily mandated to conduct criminal investigations are actually in the course of investigating matters, you don’t bring Parliament at that stage. It is completely premature,” the Builsa North MP added.
Agalga also referred to the Standing Orders, saying they clearly state that matters before the court should not be investigated by Parliament, especially where such investigations could affect court outcomes.
The Majority Leader’s comments came after the Minority attempted to get Parliament to start an inquiry into several recent cocaine-related cases and alleged lapses in how narcotics investigations were handled.
The motion, filed by the First Deputy Minority Whip and Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu, called for an Ad Hoc Committee to examine a series of high-profile narcotics seizures in Ghana and abroad. One of the incidents cited was the seizure of 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine by French Customs at Dunkirk on September 10, 2026, valued at $261 million.
However, when the motion was brought before the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, he dismissed it as inadmissible. “It is inadmissible under Standing Orders 5, 6, 103, Rule F, Order 192 and Order 233, and I accordingly dismiss this motion in limine,” the Speaker said.
Agalga maintained that with state investigative agencies already working on the cases and some suspects facing court proceedings, it would be premature for Parliament to open its own investigation.
The motion from the Minority was seen as an attempt to raise questions about the handling of these cocaine busts, but the Majority Leader made clear that Parliament must respect the legal process and allow official investigations to reach their conclusions.
The tension between the Majority and Minority on this matter reflects broader concerns about transparency and accountability in drug enforcement. But for now, the state agencies’ work and court cases proceed without parliamentary interference.
According to 3News.
