Narcotics Probe: Minority to Explore Another Constitutional Option After Bagbin’s Ruling
Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin says the caucus will use constitutional and parliamentary provisions to pursue the narcotics inquiry.
- Minority rejects Bagbin’s ruling
- Afenyo-Markin promises another route
- Probe targeted narcotics handling
The Minority in Parliament says it will pursue another constitutional and parliamentary route to push for an inquiry into major narcotics consignments linked to Ghana.
The decision follows Speaker Alban Bagbin’s rejection of the Minority’s motion for a bipartisan probe into the seizures at Parliament’s emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the caucus would not allow the matter to end with the Speaker’s ruling.
He said the Minority would rely on provisions of the 1992 Constitution and Parliament’s Standing Orders to bring the issue back before the House.
“We say that we are left with another option, we would exercise an option within the Constitution and our own standing orders… We will not let this matter rest,” he said.
Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority intends to use Parliament’s oversight powers to examine how major narcotics consignments were handled and the role of public institutions in preventing Ghana from being used as a transit point for illegal drugs.
He also questioned the application of Parliament’s Standing Orders in the Speaker’s ruling, insisting that public institutions must operate within the law.
The motion, filed by First Deputy Minority Whip and Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu, sought the establishment of an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate how major narcotics consignments were processed, inspected, cleared and exported from Ghana.
It cited the seizure of 3.9 metric tonnes of cocaine by French Customs at Dunkirk on September 10, 2026, as well as the seizure of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine by the Australian Border Force in June 2026. Earlier cocaine interceptions in Takoradi and Pedu in Cape Coast were also referenced.
Speaker Bagbin rejected the motion, saying the proposed inquiry substantially overlapped with matters before the courts and could potentially prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings.
The Minority, however, maintains that its proposed inquiry was focused on the performance and accountability of public institutions, rather than determining the criminal liability of individuals before the courts.
