Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu expressed surprise at Speaker Alban Bagbin's decision not to admit the Minority's motion for Parliament recall, which sought to address concerns over Ghana becoming a drug transit hub. Iddrisu said the motion's contents matched his earlier memorandum requesting the recall, so he expected the Speaker to admit it.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Deputy Minority Chief Whip Habib Iddrisu expressed surprise at Speaker Alban Bagbin's rejection of the Minority's motion to recall Parliament over illegal drug trafficking concerns, saying the motion's contents were identical to the memorandum that had already prompted Bagbin to recall Parliament.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana ranked fifth among countries of origin for cocaine seized at Belgium's Antwerp port in 2025, the only African nation in the top five dominated by Latin American states. Belgian customs seized nearly 55 tonnes of cocaine at Antwerp last year; Ghana's ranking reflects large seizures in cassava flour and other legitimate exports from Tema.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected a Minority motion seeking parliamentary investigation into major narcotics consignments linked to Ghana, ruling it inadmissible because it overlapped with ongoing criminal proceedings and could prejudice parties involved in cases before the courts. He subsequently adjourned Parliament until further notice.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin rejected Speaker Alban Bagbin's decision to dismiss a motion seeking a parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana, arguing the Speaker erred by citing ongoing criminal proceedings to block Parliament's proposed Ad Hoc Committee investigation into how narcotics consignments were processed, inspected, cleared and exported.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticized the Majority and Speaker Alban Bagbin for using their numerical strength to prevent Parliament from inquiring into recent cocaine seizures, calling the Speaker's decision to declare the motion inadmissible a setback for parliamentary oversight and democracy.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Minority in Parliament has rejected Speaker Alban Bagbin's ruling dismissing its motion for a parliamentary inquiry into recent narcotics seizures linked to Ghana, vowing to pursue the matter through legitimate avenues. Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said the Speaker erred by citing ongoing criminal proceedings to determine the scope of the proposed inquiry.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Speaker Alban Bagbin has urged Parliament's Human Rights Committee to proactively investigate reported human rights abuses rather than wait for formal referrals, saying the committee has the authority to inquire into such matters and should take an active interest in protecting citizens' rights.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has asked Speaker Alban Bagbin to allow parliamentary caucus leaders adequate opportunity to make submissions before the House rules on the admissibility of a matter, noting the issue has implications for Ghana's democratic image and international reputation.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin has dismissed a motion seeking parliamentary inquiry into major narcotics seizures linked to Ghana as inadmissible, citing substantial factual overlap with ongoing court proceedings and concerns that a parliamentary inquiry could prejudice judicial determinations.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Parliament Speaker Alban Bagbin has called on MPs and the public to distinguish between legitimate political criticism and personal insults, saying robust disagreement is essential to democracy but must respect the dignity of others. He stressed that insult is not argument and that accountability should not be undermined by abusive language.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Parliament's Speaker Alban Bagbin has urged leaders of Ghana's two major political parties to stop rewarding members whose contributions are marked by insults and abusive language, warning that recognising such conduct encourages others to adopt similar behaviour to gain attention.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Parliament's Speaker Alban Bagbin has cautioned political actors and MPs to exercise restraint in their language, warning that misuse of free speech and disrespect for opposing views could undermine Ghana's democratic stability. He stressed that democracy requires discipline, decency, and recognition of each other's humanity, and that words used by MPs can either unite or deepen divisions in the country.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Speaker Alban Bagbin has expressed concern over increasingly abusive, insulting, and hateful speech in Ghana's national discourse, particularly on social media, while acknowledging that freedom of expression, criticism of public officials, and vigorous debate are essential to democracy and must be protected.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Akuapem North MP Samuel Awuku says the government should not view calls for a bipartisan parliamentary investigation into recent cocaine seizures as an attack, arguing the scale of the haul—including 3.9 tonnes seized by French authorities from a Ghana-bound container—requires a national response. The Minority has filed a motion for parliamentary inquiry, but the Majority argues law enforcement should be allowed to complete their investigations first.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Samuel Awuku, MP for Akuapem North, says the government should view calls for a bipartisan parliamentary investigation into recent cocaine seizures as a national crisis requiring cross-party response, not as a partisan attack. The Minority has filed a motion for a parliamentary inquiry following French authorities' seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Dunkirk from a container that departed Ghana, though the Majority argues law enforcement should complete ongoing investigations first.
29 September 2026 · Joy Online →