Wednesday when the Minority moved a motion to overturn the decision of the House yesterday on the approval of the 2022 budget.
Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu had to beat a hasty retreat out of the Chamber after he ruled out the Motion rather than put it to a vote.
The Minority got incensed by some pronouncements of the First Deputy Speaker when he claimed ‘he is only a Deputy speaker helping the Speaker out’ to justify being counted with the Majority side yesterday to ensure quorum on the decision.
Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu who moved the motion argued Tuesday’s process was a nullity more so than what happened on Friday because only 138 members were officially recorded as having attended the sitting.
“So if the MP for Bekwai was presiding as Speaker how did they do the counting to get 50% of members present and voting to approve the budget,” he quizzed.
He called on the House to vote for the Motion and reject the events of Tuesday because it was illegal and unconstitutional.
Ruling on the motion, however, the First Deputy Speaker argued nothing was said that had not been argued on Tuesday.
“All the arguments that have been made and the issues raised and discussed are contained in my ruling yesterday.”
“First it must be made clear, a Deputy Speaker is not a Speaker.”
He contended that per Article 91 (1) the first and second deputy speakers are elected among members of Parliament while the Speaker is not a member of the House.
He said, “Mr. Speaker is not a member of Parliament. I am a Member of Parliament, the Hon. Second Deputy Speaker is a member of parliament and our role is to assist the Speaker in managing this house.”
“So any attempt to read and interpret the Constitution of Mr. Speaker to include that of Deputy Speakers is a misreading and a misapplication of the Constitution. But when Mr. Speaker is not available, either of us can preside over the House.”
The Minority side erupted and some members charged towards the Speaker’s podium but the Deputy Speaker was whisked away by the Marshalls in time.
Source: MyPublisher24.com