Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the ruling by the Supreme Court which allows Deputy Speakers’ to enjoy voting rights as regrettable.
He said, if the deputy speakers are allowed to vote, then they must take part, first, in the voice vote.
“If you are presiding and can shout aye or nay with your party in the voice vote, how do you impartially determine which was the loudest?he quizzed.
In a Facebook post,Ghana’s former President, John Dramani Mahama said, “The first vote in most cases taken on a motion in Parliament is a voice vote. The Presiding officer, whether the Speaker or any of his/her deputy speakers is supposed to listen to which is the loudest, the ayes or the nays and make a determination.
“If the deputy speakers are allowed to vote, then they must take part, first, in the voice vote. If you are presiding and can shout aye or nay with your party in the voice vote, how do you impartially determine which was the loudest”?.
Mr. Mahama who seems not to be happy with the interpretation by the Supreme Court called on the applicant to seek review.
“What is the determination of the SC? That Deputy speakers can shout aye or nay with the side they agree or disagree with in the voice vote? The SC is leading us into the realm of absurdity! This judgement is regrettable, and I look forward to the applicant applying for a review of this ruling,” Mr. Mahama posted on his Facebook wall.
Ghana l Atinkaonline.com l Vincent Kwofie