James Agalga rejects Minority demand for parliamentary cocaine probe

Majority Leader James Agalga has dismissed calls from the Minority for a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry into a series of cocaine seizures linked to Ghana since early 2025. Agalga argued that criminal investigations fall strictly under the jurisdiction of the judiciary and state security agencies, rather than the legislature. He accused the opposition of playing to the gallery, asserting that Parliament lacks the legal mandate to conduct criminal probes, a limitation he claimed the Minority is well aware of. This dismissal comes amid heightening political tension following several high-profile narcotics interceptions at international airports. The demand for an inquiry followed reports of significant drug interceptions abroad, most notably a recent seizure of 46.7 kg of cocaine at Beirut's Rafic Hariri International Airport involving a passenger who had traveled from Accra. The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Second National Vice Chairman, Nana Boakye, claimed that over 14 major drug busts worth approximately $1.7 billion have been traced back to Ghana since March 2025. Former Sekondi MP Andrew Egyapa Mercer also urged President John Dramani Mahama to clarify these incidents with Lebanese authorities and demanded the immediate publication of an anti-drug task force roadmap that was originally expected in early October. In defense of the government’s record, Agalga highlighted that the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has recorded 22 local seizures during the same period, which he cited as evidence of improved intelligence and surveillance capabilities. This sentiment was echoed by Rashid Tanko Computer, the NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT, who argued that the visibility of these busts indicates more aggressive law enforcement rather than a rise in trafficking. Meanwhile, Bernard Bediako Baidoo, the Member of Parliament for Akwatia, challenged the NPP’s moral authority to lecture the current administration, referencing drug-related incidents that occurred under previous NPP governments. The push for a parliamentary probe was ultimately halted by Speaker Alban Bagbin, who ruled the request inadmissible. The Speaker noted that a parliamentary investigation would overlap with ongoing court cases, potentially compromising judicial processes. While the government maintains that its efforts through NACOC are yielding results, the opposition continues to demand higher accountability and the removal of key agency heads. This clash underscores the ongoing debate over national security and Ghana's international reputation as the country navigates its role in the global fight against narcotics trafficking.