The minority group in Ghana's eighth parliament is outraged by the Supreme Court's decision to grant deputy speakers of parliament the right to vote while presiding.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, the minority leader, described the ruling as strange while speaking to the media after the Supreme Court ruling. The minority group further alleged that the ruling is a travesty of parliamentary justice since it has set aside portions of parliament's standing orders just for the Deputy Speakers to vote or form a quorum.
"We are not surprised by the Supreme Court's ruling," Mr. Haruna said, "but we are utterly disappointed in the Supreme Court, which is determined to support a struggling president with an ailing economy."
"This supreme court judgement can only be defined as judicial backing for e-levy to set aside Parliament's standing orders and is a serious mockery of parliamentary justice," he added.
The minority leader posed a rhetorical question, indicating that, given that the speaker is out of the country and the deputy speaker is presiding, let us presume that the second deputy speaker is not present.
Who will be in charge of supervision when the first deputy speaker votes?
What effect will the Supreme Court's decision have on the standing orders prohibiting deputy speakers from voting?
"A deputy speaker or any other member presiding shall not maintain his original while presiding," according to Standing Order 108 (3).
As a result of today's judgement, standing order 108 (3) is no longer in effect, as the supreme court has annulled it.
This verdict, on the other hand, has upheld the stance of the Hon. Joe Wise, Member of Parliament for Bekwai, who counted himself during the budget approval process for the year 2022.
The speaker, the honorable Bagbin, described his actions as procedurally challenged at the time. The speaker implied that the Bekwai MP had counted himself incorrectly.
He stated that the Bekwai MP was correct in maintaining his membership as a representative of the Bekwai people, but not when he was functioning as speaker of the house.
Mr. Bagbin stated it's difficult for him to be counted during the formation of a quorum.
The top court's decision today, however, has put an end to those perspectives.
It will also go a long way toward resolving the physical scuffles that occurred during the budget and e-levy discussions last year.
Joe Wise, who talked to reporters in parliament after the court's decision, said he was pleased with the court's decision.
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