Speaker Bagbin Summons Parliament for Extraordinary Sitting Following €225m Cocaine Seizure in France

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has officially summoned Parliament to convene for an extraordinary sitting on September 29, 2026. This urgent recall follows a petition from the Minority Caucus regarding grave national security concerns after French authorities intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately €225 million, in a shipping container originating from Ghana. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has expressed alarm over the incident, with National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye claiming that over 12 major drug trafficking incidents have occurred since 2025, with a combined street value exceeding $1 billion. The party is calling for a bipartisan parliamentary committee to conduct public hearings and has demanded the removal of heads of key institutions responsible for drug and border control.

In response to these developments, the Majority Caucus, led by Leader James Agalga, has defended the current administration's record while urging for stronger inter-agency collaboration. Agalga highlighted a significant 197% increase in narcotics-related arrests, which rose from 73 in 2024 to 217 in 2025. He attributed this progress to the establishment of a specialized narcotics court and the expansion of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC). However, the Majority Leader initially expressed reservations about an immediate parliamentary probe, cautioning that a premature inquiry could interfere with ongoing investigations being conducted by national security and international law enforcement agencies.

The political discourse has also centered on systemic vulnerabilities at Ghana’s ports. Debate has intensified over the 2018 decision to remove NACOC from the list of primary Port Inspection Agencies. While some government proponents link current trafficking challenges to these past reforms, Deputy Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, dismissed such claims as "absurd," pointing instead to broader gaps in intelligence sharing. Similarly, Dr. Ekua Amoakoh, Press Secretary to NPP 2028 presidential candidate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, challenged the NDC to stop blaming the previous administration and focus on enhancing the existing enforcement framework.

As the extraordinary sitting approaches, the atmosphere remains charged with partisan tension. Recent media discussions, including a heated exchange on Peace FM between journalist Charles McCarthy and Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, underscore the public's demand for accountability. Furthermore, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, former Director of Communications for the late President Atta Mills, noted the irony of the current situation, recalling how similar drug-related incidents were historically used as political weapons. The upcoming parliamentary session will be a pivotal moment for Ghana to assess its narcotics control systems and determine if a formal bipartisan investigation is necessary to safeguard the nation’s international reputation and export economy.