The 8th Parliament has constantly suffered consensus building during voting because of the equal numbers from both sides of the house.
On Wednesday, the issue of the deputy speaker having a casting vote while moderating proceedings was determined by the Supreme Court of Ghana.
A panel of five (5) judges, presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, asserted the action taken by the first deputy speaker to support the authorization of the 2022 budget without the NDC MPs particular.
The NDC MPs, also referred to as the Minority group in Parliament, in a press conference at the Parliament House after the Supreme Court ruling stood unhappy with the verdict which implies that the deputy speaker can be counted to form a quorum for Parliament decision and vote also when when he is sitting in as Speaker.
They said the court’s decision amounted to judicial interference in the tested parliamentary practice and established conventions.
Hon. Haruna said “it was not for nothing that the article 102 of the Constitution provided that a person presiding shall not have an original nor casting vote”, adding that the court decision was objectionable to the provision in Article 102 and 104.
The court ruling aptly captures the judicial support for the electronic transactions levy (e-levy) for a struggling economy in distress, he added.
Bainatv.com.gh/Simon Adu
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