First Deputy Speaker satisfied with Supreme Court’s ruling

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing a deputy speaker to be counted to form a quorum and vote during parliamentary decisions.

He said the ruling vindicated his position to be counted as a Member of Parliament (MP) present to constitute the quorum.
“The decision practically affirms the position I took, there is still some misrepresentation as to whether I participated in the vote itself on the night of the 30th November, 2021…anybody who is in doubt must go back and watch the clip,” he said.

“It was a voice vote and I did not participate in the voice vote.”
Mr Osei-Owusu was reacting to the ruling by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, affirming the constitutionality of the action he took as a First Deputy Speaker, Presiding, to vote to approve the 2022 Budget Statement.

Mr Osei-Owusu said matters that had never arisen were now at the fore because of the equal numbers of Parliamentarians the parties had in the Chamber.

He encouraged people who disagreed with him to boldly state their position and if need be refer it to the appropriate body like the Supreme Court for interpretation.

“At the end of it all we are being guided,” he said.
He expressed happiness about the clarity being brought to the issue.

“So I am very glad that indeed that clarity has been given but I’m not surprised the test of the Constitution was very clear even the Article 109 (93) was clear that you shall not retain the original vote.”

“Whereas in the case of Mr Speaker he said you shall not have either original or casting votes.”

Mr Osei-Owusu also maintained that the ruling by the Supreme Court was to remove any ambiguities with respect to people’s interpretation of the matter.

“What the Supreme Court has done in my view is to clear the way and remove any ambiguities…”

“What I know is that this matter was put to the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution and standing orders”.

“I think that has been cleared and we are all bound by the interpretation” he said.