Agalga rejects cocaine probe by Parliament, says criminal investigations lie outside its powers

Majority Leader James Agalga has rejected the Minority’s push for a parliamentary probe into cocaine seizures, saying the House has no power to conduct criminal investigations.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, he accused the Minority of pursuing an inquiry despite knowing the limits of Parliament’s authority.

“Parliament has not got the power to conduct criminal investigations.”

He said the Minority’s demand amounted to an attempt to play to the gallery while investigative agencies were already handling the cases.

“The minority is aware that Parliament is not clothed with the power to carry out criminal investigations.”

Mr Agalga said arrests and court proceedings were already underway. Some suspects had been arraigned, others had been granted bail, and trials were ongoing in some cases.

He questioned what Parliament would investigate under those circumstances.

His comments follow the Minority’s petition for Parliament to be recalled from recess over major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana. The caucus sought scrutiny of port security, cargo inspections and the work of agencies responsible for preventing drug trafficking.

Speaker Alban Bagbin subsequently recalled the House for an emergency sitting on September 29. He ruled the proposed inquiry inadmissible in its current form.

The Speaker said its scope substantially overlapped with matters before the courts. He warned that proceeding could prejudice parties involved in pending judicial proceedings. The ruling prevented the proposed inquiry from going ahead as presented.

Mr Agalga also invoked the sub judice principle, arguing that Parliament’s rules restricted its involvement in matters already before the judiciary.

“Parliament's own standing orders will not allow us to stray into matters that have engaged the attention of the judiciary. The minority knows this.”