‘Support The Supreme Court’: Akufo-Addo Commends Ruling Allowing Deputy Speakers To Vote While Presiding

• President Nana Akufo-Addo has made a surprise comment about the controversial ruling yesterday by the Supreme Court
• The President has commended the ruling as timely and consistent with the constitutional mandate of the judiciary
• He said critics of the ruling are mistaken and has called on the public to support the work of the Supreme Court

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said the Supreme Court ruling that now allows deputy speakers to vote while presiding in Parliament is timely.

The President said contrary to criticisms that the ruling amounts to the Judiciary’s interference in the work of Parliament, the ruling aptly demonstrates the principle of checks and balances essential in any democracy.

“All organs of the state including me, as the head of the Executive, are subject to the Constitution. There is nobody or organ in the Ghanaian state that is above the laws of the land.

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Supreme Court decision on deputy speakers: Prof Gyampo proposes review of ruling

“To suggest that Parliament should operate without interference is to advocate for the very matter we have tried to avoid, the concentration of power. We have had that experience before and don’t want that,” the President is quoted in report on Citi News.

According to the report, Nana Akufo-Addo made the remarks on Thursday, March 10, 2022.

The President is also reported to have said that the Supreme Court has the sole responsibility of interpreting the law of the land and so claims by the Minority that the ruling constitutes an interference of the work of Parliament is unfounded.

He explained that no one is above the law of the country hence Parliament must respect the ruling of the Supreme Court.

“All organs of the state including me [President Akufo-Addo], as the head of the executive, are subject to the constitution. There is no body or organ in the Ghanaian state that is above the laws of the land. To suggest that Parliament should operate without interference is to advocate for the very matter we have tried to avoid, the concentration of power. We have had that experience before and don’t want that,” the President said on Thursday, March 10, 2022.

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Prof Asare lays bare errors in Supreme Court decision that deputy speakers can vote while presiding

The Supreme Court, in a landmark ruling on Wednesday, March 9, stated that Deputy Speakers of Parliament can take part in voting while presiding over proceedings of the house in the absence of the Speaker of Parliament.

“I am happy that the Supreme Court has unanimously clarified what the constitutional position is. At least we can put this matter to rest and continue with the business. Now that the Supreme Court has pronounced it, we need to put the matter to rest and continue our work.

“Let’s support the Supreme Court to do its work,” he is quoted in the report.

Nana Akufo-Addo made the comments in a media interview on Thursday, March 10, 2022, on the sidelines of Dubai Expo 2020, according to reports.

Prof Gyampo Proposes Review Of Supreme Court Decision On Deputy Speakers’ Vote To End Controversy

Prof Ransford Gyampo has proposed a review of a ruling by the Supreme Court on the right of deputy speakers to vote while presiding in Parliament.

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Mahama criticises Supreme Court ruling that deputy speakers’ can vote while presiding

The Supreme Court stoked controversy when a seven-member panel of judges decided that deputy speakers temporarily acting as Speakers of Parliament do not lose their right to be counted as part of the quorum for decision-making in the House.

Prof Ransford Gyampo, a senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has said in an opinion piece on Facebook that while the apex court has not erred by ruling on a matter that was brought before it, a review of that ruling has become necessary.

Supreme Court Says Deputy Speaker Presiding as Speaker Of Parliament Can Vote

Ghana’s Supreme Court has ruled that a deputy speaker – while presiding over proceedings in Parliament – has the right to vote on matters and be counted as part of the quorum for decision-making in the House.

A seven-member Supreme Court bench ruled unanimously that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 103 and 104 of the 1992 Constitution, a deputy speaker who assumes the temporary role as Speaker of Parliament does not lose his right to take part in decisions.

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Supreme Court decision that Joe Wise can vote while presiding riles Minority

“Parliament and the Courts are coequal branches of government and neither can tell the other how to run its affairs,” he published on Facebook a few hours after the controversial ruling on Wednesday, March 9, 2022.

Source: YEN.com.gh