The Majority in Ghana’s Parliament seems to have been boxed into a tight corner by the Minority over the Supreme Court’s judgement which has struck out portions of the Standing Orders of Parliament as unconstitutional to allow Deputy Speaker’s to be counted as part of the quorum of the House and to have the right to vote while presiding.
Ever since the Supreme Court ruled that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament and any Member of Parliament presiding over the business of the House retains his right to vote and can also be counted as part of the quorum for decision making under Article 104(1) the 1992 Constitution, consensus building for the smooth running of business in the House has broken down considerably.
Parliament had to adjourn midway into its business for the day on Friday, March 18, 2022 because it lacked the required number of Members of Parliament to form a quorum to do business and to take decisions on important transactions before the House.
The Minority has succeeded in halting the business of the House for not less than two times this week alone by calling for quorum for decision making in the House as has been interpreted by the Judgement of the Supreme Court to the effect that there were two different forms of quorum for transacting business on the Floor of Parliament as specified in Article 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution.
Incensed by the Judgement, the members of the Minority have decided to take their pound of flesh by insisting on the strict application of the law to fall in line with the terms of the judgement to ensure that there is a quorum to do business for every single transaction in the House.
The Member of Parliament for Akatchi South, Bernard Ahiafor, arrest the motion for a loan facility on the Floor midway through by raising the issue of quorum.
“Mr. Speaker, with all due respect, the law is clear that, to be able to take decisions we must have majority of the Members present. Mr. Speaker, I have always believed that when a procedure is set out for a right to be exercised, you follow that procedure.”
Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
