Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin says the 1st deputy speaker erred by counting himself as a member of the house during a vote in parliament to approve the 2022 budget.
According to Mr Bagbin, he did not act beyond his powers when he put the question on the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of Government to members of the House.
He notes that the 1st speaker acting in his absence in Parliament as the speaker of Parliament suggested that “all rules and limitations apply to him in a manner that applies to a substantive Speaker of Parliament.”
Addressing Parliament on his return from medical leave, Mr Bagbin said, the House was duly constituted for its work for the purposes of business and voting in accordance with Articles 102 and 104 respectively and the public record of the Votes and Proceedings of the House on the 26th of November lends credence to this position.
“He said “the actions of the house on Tuesday, 30th November 2022, bring into sharp focus the powers of a deputy speaker vis-à-vis that of the speaker. On that day the first deputy speaker of parliament presiding found that the vote taking on the 26th of November rejecting the budget was null and void.”
He further noted that he takes responsibility for what happens in the House and I admit the House is neither dignified nor exalted by that rancorous and unruly behaviour of members.
“I with all humility apologize on behalf of the house and all the members for the aberrations of conduct and behaviour of members on those days. I have taken responsibility for what happened in the house and I admit that the house is neither dignified nor exalted by that rancorous and unruly behaviour of members.”
He, therefore, promised to do everything within his power and authority to lead the House to chart a path of transformation, decency and change for the better.
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Source: Daniel Opoku/ATLFMNEWS
