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The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has expressed disappointment in the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Deputy Speakers can vote when they assume the position of the speaker to preside over the business of the house.
According to him, the Supreme Court’s ruling is indicative of the judiciary’s support for government’s controversial e-levy.
His comments follows a ruling by the Apex Court that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament can be counted during the formation of a quorum for parliamentary decision-making and participation in voting while presiding.
A Private Legal Practitioner, Justice Abdulai, earlier appealed to the Supreme Court to interpret Articles 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution and declare the action of, the First Deputy Speaker, Mr. Osei Owusu as unconstitutional, when he counted himself to overturn the rejection of the 2022 Budget.
The Majority Leader, while addressing journalists in parliament, declared that “…that Parliament shall by standing orders regulate its own procedures. When we regulate our own proceedings and reference is made to the 1992 Constitution and not standing orders of Parliament, especially standing order 13. ..This is judicial support for Nana Addo’s e-levy.”
Haruna Iddrissu further believes that the Supreme Court has failed parliament’s democracy because it couldn’t appreciate the true meaning of Article 110 of the Constitution.
The ruling backed the position of the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu, who defended his decisive vote in the approval of the 2022 budget, although he was presiding as Speaker.
The Apex Court also described as unconstitutional order 109 (3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament.
