The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Nandowli/Kaleo says the Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has got it wrong for supporting The Speaker to suspend The House.
According to the longest serving Member of Parliament in Ghana, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, a meeting of Parliament cannot be suspended but a day’s sitting can be suspended.
He told press men in an interview after the Speaker, Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye had suspended the first meeting of the fourth session of the seventh parliament on April 8, 2020, for the second time within seven working days.
Until the Coronavirus pandemic, the business committee of Parliament chaired by the Majority Leader, Mr. Mensah Bonsu has scheduled for the house to adjourn sine die.
Because of the COVID-19 situation, he (The Speaker) suspended the meeting which cannot be found in the Standing Orders of Parliament and the 1992 Constitution as he drew rely on order 6.
The standing order 6 gives Mr. Speaker the powers to act where it’s not found in the standing order of the house.
Responding to a follow up question, the renowned politician, Bagbin, said he did not stand up for the speaker to pass after he has suspended the house because he acted irregularly.
“If a house is suspended, the mace (authority of Parliament) would still have to stand in the house till the House comes back to continue business.”
According to him, “I first stood up for the speaker to pass but when he realised that the mace has been lifted which amounted to irregularities, I resumed my seat because I couldn’t have seconded the wrongdoing.”
Story filed by Edzorna Francis Mensah.
