Reactions as Supreme Court rules First Deputy Speaker can vote, form a quorum

Ghanaians, most especially, twitter users have reacted following a ruling by the Supreme Court of Ghana that the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu was right when he counted himself for the purpose of a quorum in Parliament.

The court, today, March 9 dismissed an application to pronounce as unconstitutional, the action of counting himself for the purposes of quorum during the passage of the government 2022 budget statement in the absence of the Speaker, Mr Alban Bagbin.

 3news.com, report 5-member panel of justices led by Justice Jones Dotse ruled that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament’s participation in voting was constitutional.

Ghana Parliament: Majority overturns 2022 budget rejection, approves it without the Minority

It could be recalled the  Majority group in Parliament on November 30 overturned an earlier decision by the Minority group, supervised by Speaker Bagbin rejecting the 2022 budget and subsequently approved it in the absence of the Speaker and the Minority.

Mr Osei Owusu popularly known as Joe Wise, a sit-in Speaker adopted the statement on Tuesday November 30 in the absence of the minority who declined participation in the approval budget.

“The House has adopted the financial statement and approved the budget statement for the ensuing year ending 31st December 202,” the First Deputy Speaker said.

“This house has approved the budget and economic statement,” Mr Osei Owusu was reported to have emphasised.

 Set aside 2022 budget rejection

 The approval took place after the Majority Leader and Leader of Parliamentary Business, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu pleaded with Joe Wise to set aside the decision taken by the house on Friday November 26, rejecting the budget statement.

According to him, proceedings which led to the rejection of the budget “did not meet the test established under Article 104” hence the need to set it aside.

Mr Kyei Mensah  Bonsu mentioned the 137 members in the house on Friday, November 26 did not meet the required condition needed to make a decision of such.

Following to the development which brought some clashes between the Speaker and his First Deputy, a Private Legal Practitioner, Justice Abdulai invited the Supreme Court to pronounce as unconstitutional, the Deputy Speaker’s action of counting himself for the purposes of quorum.

Lawyer Abdulai argued that in the context of articles 102 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution, the Deputy Speaker was not permitted to count himself for the purposes of quorum, since he had neither an original nor a casting vote as a presiding Speaker.

However, a Seven (7) member panel of judges led by Justice Jones Dotse ruled, the Deputy Speaker’s action was constitutional.

The Supreme Court struck out the standing order 109(3) which says a Deputy Speaker or any other member presiding shall not retain his original vote while presiding.

They explained the Deputy Speaker can be counted during the quorum for decision making according to article 104(1).

The ruling, literally means government’s proposed electronic transaction levy(e-levy) have been passed.

Ghanaians react as Supreme Court rules First Deputy Speaker can vote, form a quorum

Since the ruling Ghanaians have reacted to it sharing varied views.

GhanaPlus.com came across some of their reactions and brings them to you.

Justice Jones Dotse is the leading agenda/political judge. He has no integrity. He chooses party over laws. Because of e-levy, order 109(3) is unconstitutional. #PoliticalJudges #BiasedSupremeCourt

— KOJO DYNAMIC 𓃵 (@AnnanPerry) March 9, 2022

I just heard that @NAkufoAddo travelled on a commercial flight to Dubai. That is commendable, but it is because there is no money. Let us pass the E-Levy now, and you will see he will go back to his Arabian King lifestyle.

It is a TRICK, and Ghanaians should not fall for that.

— Yayra Koku (@YayraKoku) March 8, 2022

Hallucinations indeed! Animal farm Ghana!! In the name of e-levy, everything else including wisdom must suffer! This decision is political! https://t.co/NoobFD4MGx

— Mandzofficial (@Mandzobo80) March 9, 2022

The Court ruling is telling us that E-Levy has been constitutionally passed.
Notice how even amid its unpopularity amongst citizens, it has still gone through.
We figa Ghana hard but the coming days go be chaotic.

— 𓃵S∆LTPOND TIG£®WOOD 𓃵 (@Arthurockgh) March 9, 2022

Those of you who don't understand the E-Levy and why we must pay should come for a simple tutorial here. Our useless government has confused most of you so far. Now we have the simplest and the clearest explanation here. pic.twitter.com/wZMCPQplbl

— General Marcus! (@marcusadampah) March 8, 2022

Well, the stakes can be upped. A short jingle can be added to the standard dialling ringtones to show if a person has opted-in for e-levy or not. So when you dial a person you will know if they have agreed to pay. Creating positive peer pressure among govt/e-levy supporters. Or?

— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) March 9, 2022

Justice Jones Dotse, Nene Amegatcher, Prof Ashie Kotey, Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Clemence Honyenuga and Emmanuel Kulendi

The above agenda judges say; deputy speaker can be counted to form a quorum and also vote. Destroying judiciary because of e-levy and Npp agenda. pic.twitter.com/klV5FE0K7O

— KOJO DYNAMIC 𓃵 (@AnnanPerry) March 9, 2022

The opposition to e-levy is really a protest against govt corruption and waste.

We fear proceeds from e-levy will suffer the same fate. The prez will simply rent bigger planes and travel more often, parliamentarian will get $200,000 "loans", and your roads will remain unfixed.

— I, Nii Moi Thompson (@Attaanii) March 9, 2022

Very soon Deputy Speakers will be empanelled to decide on cases at the SC because of E-levy!

— ALI SIDI (@BELLOSIDI) March 9, 2022

E-LEVY!

Please from today, if you want to give me money, just call me.

I have a mountain bike that can carry me to wherever you are.

Gracias, Merci, Danke. https://t.co/YmKJvcn6OZ

— SOTTIE🇬🇭 (@staksottieGH) March 9, 2022

Source: GhanaPlus.com