By Beatrice Oppong
The Supreme Court set March 16, to determine whether Deputy-Speaker of Parliament presiding over proceedings forfeits the right to be counted among MPs present.
The Supreme Court has fixed March 16, to determine the lingering issue of whether a Deputy Speaker of Parliament presiding over proceedings forfeits the right to be counted as part of the MPs present. The issue has become a source of debate since November 30, 2021, when the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei – Owusu counted himself when he presided over the passage of the 2022 Budget.
Journalist Richard Sky is challenging the Constitutionality of the action of the Deputy-Speaker at the Supreme Court and is praying the court to set aside the purported vote by Parliament on the specified date for violating relevant provisions of the Constitution.
He wants a declaration that under Articles 95(1), 96(1), 101 and 104(1), the Deputy Speaker should have known that when he presided, he was disqualified from adding himself to the 137 MPs present. He is also seeking the court to declare that under the provisions in the Constitution, the term Speaker applies to any other person including a Deputy Speaker presiding over proceedings to determine matters before the House.
Read more: Joseph Osei – Deputy Speaker
