For many, they were waiting patiently for the return of the substantive Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin to see what he will make of the purported overturning of his ruling, which had rejected the government’s 2022 Financial statement and Economic policy.
Some have foreseen chaos and angry reactions from the Speaker, and would probably cite his first deputy Speaker for insubordination. But, contrary to that, the Speaker came out more matured and wiser.
A formal statement had been issued by the experience legislature, and therein lies all the Speaker’s option on what had happened in his absence. He addressed all the legal issues, stated his position and offered the way forward.
This writer analysis the Speaker’s write-up and came out with what he says on the two most important results; The legalities, and the way forward.
First. On all what happened at his back, Speaker Bagbin makes the point that, he acted lawfully and conducted the rejection of the budget in accordance with 1992 constitution.
He stated that, the Majority, before walking out of the house, had already been captured by the vote of proceedings as being present and voting. Walking out in a protest does not mean they were absent during taking the question.
On the issue of his first deputy Speaker overturning his decision, Speaker Bagbin says it was wrong. The deputy Speaker erred by counting himself in that dual capacity, even though there were instances he could have done that.
According to Bagbin, when the Speaker is available within the precinct of Parliament and his absence is only temporal, the deputy could count himself as an MP even when presiding. This is because, he reported and signed as a parliamentarian on that day.
However, when the Speaker is unavoidably absent, just like in this case, the deputy speaker could not have counted himself.
On the way forward, the Speaker has decided not to litigate any issue despite the breaches. He reports that, from a meeting with the leadership, the finance minister will bring a revised budget for a resolution to be adopted by the house. This will take care of the minority’s concerns.
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