2022 Budget: NPP, NDC engaged in constitutional nullities – Lawyer
A constitutional lawyer has accused both the Majority and Minority groups in parliament of engaging in constitutional nullities as far as the rejection and approval of the 2022 budget and economic policy statement are concerned.
Mr Paul Kumi said the Minority caucus’ rejection of the budget on Friday, 26 November 2021, and the Majority caucus’ approval of it on Tuesday, 30 November 2021, were both constitutional nullities.
In his view, both caucuses lacked a quorum to vote on the 2022 budget as neither met the constitutional threshold of 138.
Mr Kumi explained to Kwame Appiah Kubi on Accra100.5FM’s morning show Ghana Yensom that the confusion a lot of Ghanaians are having is the personalisation of the position of the Speaker.
To him, by virtue of article 104 of the standing orders of parliament, what transpired on either day was a nullity.
He emphasised that the presiding Speaker is excluded as far as forming a quorum is concerned.
Also, he noted that a member presiding as Speaker cannot be factored into a quorum.
He, thus, said that the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Joe Osei-Owusu, cannot be part of the quorum that voted on Tuesday when he presided over the business of the house.
“The standing orders of the house say when acting as Speaker, you cannot vote and cannot be factored in a quorum, so, for the Speaker to say he counted himself as part of a quorum was an absurdity of the highest order,” he stated.
Source: Classfmonline.com/cecil Mensah
Trending News
Former Information Minister John Tia dead
13:55E/R: Technical challenge emanating from GRIDCO causing dumsor in Koforidua, Suhum other areas
10:12Alan meets with TUC’s steering committee
10:57AERC pays courtesy on Bank of Ghana governor in Accra
00:54Bagbin’s ministerial approval freeze disappointing - Majority Caucus
09:47Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Council commends NPP gov't for making Fire Service Training School dream possible
09:32Speaker Bagbin travels to Geneva for 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly
15:09Akufo-Addo sacks Birim Central MCE
09:33Distribution of textbooks to public schools starts next week: Minister
09:25Bawumia’s 'harassment' comment puts our staff in harms way: GRA Union
14:03