The Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee and Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has dismissed appeals for Parliament to be convened to examine the facts related to the shipment of 3.9 tonnes of cocaine associated with Ghana.
The Minority has submitted a request to the Speaker to convene Parliament, contending that the matter demands immediate parliamentary review due to its implications for national security.
However, speaking in an interview monitored by The Ghana Report, Mr Toobu stated that convening the House would not necessarily enhance oversight, asserting that Parliament possesses committees already equipped to investigate the matter while the House is in recess.
He noted that Parliament’s Defence and Interior, Transport, and Trade and Industry committees possess oversight authority pertaining to the concerns connected to the shipment and are capable of executing their responsibilities without a convening of the entire House.
“If you sit and watch for something to blow up and you think that that’s the right time to set up a bipartisan committee to inquire into the matter, you’ll be moving from oversight and venturing into what we call micromanagement of various institutions,” he said.
Mr Toobu emphasised that robust parliamentary oversight ought to commence with comprehending policies, budgeting mechanisms and institutional operations rather than responding exclusively following a crisis has transpired.
He further contended that the government’s approach should concentrate on rectifying structural deficiencies rather than merely terminating individuals from their positions.
“You don’t correct the system by firing people,” he said, endorsing proposals for a comprehensive strategy to fortify cooperation among security organisations and avert comparable occurrences.
President John Dramani Mahama has instructed security organisations to formulate a comprehensive strategy intended at enhancing inter-agency cooperation and reinforcing Ghana’s capacity to combat drug trafficking and associated security challenges.
