HEROESNEWSGH The Biggest Gh News Platform
The Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has disclosed that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K. Bagbin has reportedly minuted on the motion filed by the Minority in Parliament seeking to overturn the 2022 budget while he was on sick leave outside the country.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu expressed concern that although the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, assumed full responsibility for the conduct of business in the Chamber, while the Rt. Hon. Speaker was away but the motion filed by the Minority to overturn the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government approved in the last sitting has been minuted on by Mr. Bagbin at the period he was supposed to be in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
He mentioned if it turns out that Mr. Bagbin indeed admitted the motion, then it does not auger well for parliamentary practice in Ghana and if it appears fake also leaves room for probe.
The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said: “The First Deputy Speaker is assuming full responsibility for the transaction of business in the Chamber, but my understanding is that the Rt. Hon. Speaker has minuted on the motion [from the Minority] that he has admitted it. If that is the case, then we are in for something dangerous.”
The Minority filed a motion challenging the conduct and ruling of the First Deputy Speaker on the approval of the 2022 budget on December 1.
However the motion was bounced by the First Deputy Speaker which provoked the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu to also release statement on Monday, December 13, 2021, serving notice of not relenting in its effort to challenge the First Deputy Speaker’s ruling on their motion to set aside the approval of the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
According to him, he will pursue the motion when the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, returns from his medical trip on December 14, 2021.
He was of the opinion that the December 1, 2021 ruling by the First Deputy Speaker “contravenes the Rules, Conventions, and Practices of the House and was actuated by bias.”
“The NDC Minority Caucus which I lead, and my good self, vehemently disagree with your position on the motion and your conduct in this matter. We take the strong view that your conduct affronts Orders 79, 81, 82, and 90 of our standing orders and can no longer be tolerated.”
“In that regard, we are resolved to pursue this matter further with the Right Honourable Speaker upon his return.”
