By Bubu Klinogo
The Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu has served notice that he will challenge the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei- Owusu on his conduct and ruling on a motion of rescission he moved on Wednesday, which was seconded and debated. Mr. Iddrisu had moved that the house rescind the approval granted the Budget by the Majority side on grounds of unconstitutionality.
After secondment and debate on the Motion, the First Deputy Speaker who was in the Chair ruled and dismissed the motion. Mr. Iddrisu is contending that the First Deputy Speaker had no jurisdiction ruling on a motion which has been moved and seconded and then debated. By the Standing Orders of the House, the conduct and ruling of a Speaker can only be challenged by a substantive motion and that is what Mr. Iddrisu is seeking to do.
When Mr. Iddrisu successfully challenges the Speaker, it means the Speaker must propose question on the earlier motion of rescission, for the members to vote on it. Approval of the motion of rescission will mean, the approval granted the Budget by the Majority had been rescinded.
The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin was however of the view that the First Deputy Speaker did not admit Mr. iddrisu’s Motion for Rescission. According to him, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu raised a preliminary objection to the Motion, and irrespective of the pendency of that preliminary objection, the First Deputy Speaker allowed the Motion to be seconded and debated and subsequently ruled on the preliminary objection. He said the ruling was therefore on the objection regarding the admissibility of the motion.
