Speaker Bagbin adjourns Parliament indefinitely after rejecting narcotics probe motion

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has adjourned the House until further notice after ruling against a minority-sponsored motion seeking a parliamentary investigation into major narcotics consignments linked to Ghana.

Mr Bagbin announced the adjournment shortly after declaring the proposed motion for the establishment of an ad hoc committee inadmissible.

In his ruling, the Speaker said the proposed inquiry substantially overlapped with criminal proceedings currently before the courts and could potentially prejudice the interests of parties involved in those cases.

“Accordingly, I am of the considered opinion that permitting the motion to proceed in its present form as presented by a Leader of the House at this particular time may prejudice the interests of parties to pending judicial proceedings,” he said.

He consequently ruled, in accordance with Parliament’s Standing Orders, that the Private Member’s Motion could not proceed in its current form.

Following the ruling, Mr Bagbin directed that the sitting of the House be adjourned until further notice.