SC ruling on deputy speaker vote: John Mahama speaks

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Former President John Mahama has describing as dangerous the Supreme Court ruling that Deputy Speaker can vote and be part of the quorum for decision making when he presides over affairs in Parliament.

“A unanimous 7-0? Shocking but not surprising. An unfortunate interpretation for convenience that sets a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future,” Mr Mahama wrote on Twitter.

The apex court on Wednesday ruled that the Deputy Speaker when presiding can exercise a vote contrary to Standing Order 13 of Parliament.

The contentious issue was whether a Deputy Speaker of Parliament presiding over proceedings can vote or should be counted as part of the quorum.

The panel chaired by Justice Jones Dotse also said the approval of the budget was valid.

However, the reasons for the ruling will be filed at the registry of the court by close of work Friday.

Addressing the media, Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu accused the judiciary of interfering in the work of the legislature which is another independent arm of government.

The Tamale South MP stated the ruling means Deputy Speakers must be stripped of their courtesies since the judgment makes them ordinary MPs contrary to what pertains in the UK and other jurisdictions.

“Our attention has been drawn to a disappointing ruling of the Supreme Court of Ghana [which] is more or less amounts to judicial interference in a time tested parliamentary practice and established conventions.

“The Supreme Court, to put it bluntly, this ruling is judicial support for E-levy nothing more, for a struggling economy in distress. Judicial support for the restoration of a matter that they have said is constitutional is repugnant to Articles 102 and 104 but what can we do. They are cloaked with the mandate to interpret the law,” he observed.