Joe Wise denies NDC MPs request for Tuesday’s ruling to be quashed
The Minority caucus in a bid to have the 2022 budget laid on the table and discussed and also if possible overturn its approval as done by the Majority caucus on Tuesday 30th November 2021 has been quashed once again by 1st Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu.
This request was made by Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu during parliamentary siting today Wednesday, December 1st 2021 after the Minority boycotted yesterday’s sitting.
Leader of the Minority caucus indicated that the approval of the budget yesterday was in breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament and the 1992 constitution.
“Mr. Speaker, yesterday [Tuesday], as reported by the votes and proceedings which has been adopted, I’m begging to move that the decision which was taken yesterday [Tuesday] in adopting purportedly a budget statement subject to concessions was unconstitutional and a betrayal of our rules and standing orders and a betrayal of the 1992 constitution.”
In the course of the debate of the motion First Deputy speaker in ruling on the motion also defended his stance saying according to stipulations in the 1992 constitution he Mr Joseph Osei Owusu and the Second Deputy Speaker are legislators and assist the Speaker when the need arises so to him there is nothing wrong him joining the Majority caucus to approve the 2022 budget.
“I have not heard anything here today [Wednesday] which was not discussed yesterday [Tuesday]. All the arguments today were practically the arguments made yesterday [Tuesday]. There are a few matters which I wish to clarify that first, it must be clear that a Deputy Speaker is not a Speaker. Indeed, article 96(1) of the constitution says, and I quote there shall be two deputy speakers of Parliament who shall be elected from the Members of Parliament and to contrast that to Mr. Speaker is not a Member of Parliament.”
“I am a member of Parliament and the Second Deputy Speaker is a member of Parliament, and our role is to assist the Speaker in managing the house. So any attempts to read and interpret the constitution to include the Deputy Speakers is a misreading” he said.
But the Minority caucus insisted that the Speaker should vote on their motion rather than going ahead to pass a ruling.
The heated debate in the chamber continued and the Speaker had no option than to suspend sitting for an hour as both sides heckled and shoved each other.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
