The Minority in Parliament staged a protest after Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected a Private Member’s Motion seeking a parliamentary inquiry into recent narcotics seizures linked to Ghana.
Parliament was recalled to sit on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, following calls for lawmakers to examine a series of reported major narcotics seizures connected to the country.
The motion, however, was dismissed by the Speaker, who ruled that it was inadmissible because of its overlap with ongoing investigations and criminal proceedings before the courts.
Bagbin explained that allowing Parliament to conduct an inquiry into matters already under investigation or before the courts could potentially prejudice the interests of the parties involved.
He said his decision followed careful consideration of the motion, its proposed terms of reference, the investigations underway and the related court proceedings.
The ruling immediately drew a strong reaction from the Minority caucus.
Shortly after Bagbin delivered his decision, Minority MPs gathered outside the Chamber ahead of a planned press briefing on the matter.
The lawmakers broke into chants while displaying placards bearing the inscription, “24-hour cocaine economy”, in protest against the Speaker’s decision.
The Minority maintained that Parliament has a constitutional responsibility to exercise oversight over matters of public interest and argued that the recent narcotics seizures fell within that mandate.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin subsequently criticised Bagbin’s ruling, arguing that the Speaker had erred in dismissing the motion.
He contended that the decision had improperly limited Parliament’s constitutional oversight responsibilities.
The development has deepened the disagreement between the Majority and Minority over how Parliament should respond to the recent narcotics-related cases, particularly where investigations and court proceedings are already underway.
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