The Minority in Parliament has accused the First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu of constantly manipulating a lacuna in the Constitution in relation to the proceedings on the floor of Parliament.
A member of the Minority and the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Odododiodio Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuije made these accusations against the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament after a free-for-all fight broke on the floor of Parliament on Monday, December 20, 2021, over the proceedings to vote for the approval of the controversial Electronic Levy (E-Levey).
The Odododiodio MP was speaking in an interview on Accra-based Neat FM.
He accused the First Deputy Speaker of manipulating the rules on the floor of Parliament to favour the Majority group.
According to him, the Deputy Speaker’s decision to preside and still cast a vote on the proceedings on the floor is a lacuna that is being manipulated by the First Deputy Speaker.
He said the First Deputy Speaker over time has chosen to consistently manipulate the lacuna in the Constitution.
Nii Lante was of the view that anytime the First Deputy Speaker presides in the absence of the Speaker, he has no casting vote per the Standing Order 1093. But anytime the First Deputy Speaker presides and there is a vote, he wants to manipulate the situation to favour the Majority group.
He attributed the stalemate on the floor to the lack of leadership on the part of the Majority group.
“The Majority group must be told that this eighth Parliament is not the usual Parliament known to the Majority,” he said.
He added that this is the time for consensus building and not a show of state power and manipulations.
He served notice that as members of the Minority, they will not allow the First Deputy Speaker to preside and still have a vote.
