The Supreme Court has in another unanimous decision ruled that a case challenging the government’s approval of the 2022 budget is moot.
The suit filed by a broadcast journalist, Richard Dela Sky against the Attorney General questioned the decision by First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu to vote in the November 30, 2021, parliamentary proceedings that led to the approval of the budget when he took the Chair in the absence of the substantive Speaker.
Mr Sky also wanted a declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Articles 95(1), 96(1), and 104(1), any time a Deputy Speaker or any other person presides over Parliament in the absence of the Speaker, that person forfeits the right to be counted as a part of the MP present for the determination of a matter.
Moreover, he prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the decision of the 138 NPP MPs which approved the budget.
But according to a report by myjoyonline, the Court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse said its earlier judgement that a Deputy Speaker can vote and form part of a quorum for decision making while presiding over the House, substantially addresses the issues raised by Mr Sky.
The trial was heard by Justices Justice Jones Dotse and assisted by Justices Nene Amegatcher, Avril Lovelace Johnson, Gertrude Torkornoo, Henrietta Mensah-Bonsu and Yonni Kulendi.
Source: thenewsroomonline.com