Parliament cannot investigate the ongoing cocaine cases because the courts are already handling about 20 suspects, the Majority Leader, James Agalga, said on September 29.
He spoke on TV3’s Ghana Tonight show amid calls from the Minority in Parliament for a probe into drug-related cases. Agalga rejected these calls, saying Parliament has no mandate to conduct criminal investigations.
“Parliament does not conduct criminal investigations, it has never happened,” he said. He questioned why Parliament should start a probe when the cases are before the courts and investigations are ongoing by state agencies.
“What transpired in Parliament today clearly was a matter that sought to invite Parliament to commence a probe into matters that are already pending before our law courts,” Agalga added.
The Majority Leader pointed out that nearly 20 people had been arrested and brought before the courts in connection with the cases. Some suspects had already been remanded.
He warned that allowing Parliament to investigate the same matters could lead to conflicting outcomes. “When you have different investigations running concurrently, the danger is that you may arrive at different conclusions,” he said.
Agalga said criminal investigations belong to state institutions with legal authority over such matters. “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,” he said.
The Minority in Parliament had filed a motion asking the House to investigate a series of drug-related cases. They raised concerns about alleged lapses in how narcotics seizures and prosecutions were handled.
However, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, dismissed the motion as inadmissible when it came before the House. The Speaker’s ruling meant no parliamentary investigation will take place.
The controversy comes as Ghana faces increased scrutiny over drug trafficking cases. The government has arrested multiple suspects, but some lawmakers argue more oversight is needed.
Agalga’s comments underscore a division in Parliament over how to handle these cases. While the Minority wants a parliamentary probe, the Majority insists the courts and police must be allowed to do their work without interference.
The debate reflects wider tensions about accountability and transparency in Ghana’s fight against drugs. But for now, the Majority Leader is clear: Parliament will not launch its own inquiry while the courts are still hearing cases.
According to 3News.
