Joe Ghartey, MP for Essikado-Ketan, has urged his colleagues to seek a review of the Supreme Court ruling that Deputy Speakers can vote while presiding if they disagree with it.
He claimed that the controversies surrounding the decision are unnecessary because aggrieved parties can always seek review at the Supreme Court.
The former Deputy Speaker and Minister of Justice indicated that the ruling could be changed; thus, Members of Parliament who disagree with the current ruling have the option to seek redress.
“There are three branches of government.” Parliament is not the only one among them who can make its own rules. The Judiciary is, too.”
“This should not be a problem at all. If any of the parties disagree with the judgment, they can request a review, and who knows, the Court might change its mind,” he explained.
His remarks follow a ruling by the Supreme Court, presided over by Justice Jones Dotse, on Wednesday, March 9 that a Deputy Speaker can be counted during the formation of a quorum for parliamentary decision-making and vote while presiding over the parliamentary business.
Since then, high-ranking members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have expressed their displeasure with the ruling.
The Speaker of Parliament has recently joined the debate, calling the Supreme Court’s recent decision “absurd and reckless.”
According to Alban Babgin, the 7-0 ruling by the judges’ path is concerning because the decision constitutes interference in Parliament’s work.
“The trend of unanimity is equally troubling,” said the Speaker, who is on medical leave in Dubai. It does not contribute to the exploration and expansion of our legal jurisprudence.”
He also called President Akufo-reaction Addo’s to the ruling “myopic.”
“The President’s remark is myopic, and it only serves to exacerbate the schism between the Executive and Parliament.”
“Mr President, the issue at hand is not that Parliament is above the law. Parliament is not above the law, as everyone knows. Both the Executive and the Judiciary are not above the law.
