Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has expressed concern over a Supreme Court decision that declared a clause in the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 unconstitutional. The clause aimed to empower the Minister of Interior to grant licenses for the cultivation of cannabis for industrial or medicinal purposes.
The Supreme Court ruled that there was no debate in Parliament on the clause before its passage, as required by the constitution.
Speaker Bagbin, who believes that Ghana is missing out on potential revenue from cannabis cultivation, conveyed his dissatisfaction with the ruling to the justices of the apex court in a meeting. He emphasized the importance of consulting Parliament for proper briefings before making decisions that affect legislative processes.
During the presentation and first reading of the Narcotics Regulation Commission Amendment Bill, 2023, by the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, on the floor of Parliament, Bagbin called for collaboration and mutual respect among the three arms of government. He expressed his belief that it was improper for the judiciary to make significant decisions on how Parliament conducts its business without consulting the legislative body.
The Speaker had previously highlighted the potential of the narcotics industry to generate domestic revenue for funding development projects. He mentioned the use of cannabis in pharmaceuticals, noting its numbing effects during surgical procedures. Bagbin criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling, highlighting that other countries like Canada have successfully utilized the cannabis industry for revenue generation. He stressed the need to explore alternative revenue sources beyond proposals like the e-levy.
Source – 3news.com
