News:
January 27, 2018
Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo on Saturday sworn in the Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye to act as President for four days, in the absence of President Nana Akuffo-Addo.
The President is out of the jurisdiction to attend an African Union (AU) summit and in the absence of the Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who is seeking medical attention in the UK.
According to the Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu for the Speaker to take the oath of allegiance in less than ten (10) days was legally needless and unnecessary as repetition of the oath is against the oath Act 1972.
He called on the Executive arm of government or a Member of Parliament to come with a private members motion to amend the schedule of oath.
The Chief Justice was clever enough for not mentioning the word, “haven been elected to the high office of the President, the Speaker has not been elected to the high office as the President”, he said.
So we should as a Parliament seek to delete or amend this words so that it would read, “on the bases of Article 60(11) (12) of the constitution” then we proceed to take the oath under Article 93, he pointed out.
He said Parliament has the power to legislate and make laws, “we must jealously protect and guard it, the duty of the judiciary is to interpret and adjudicate it”.
And called on the President Nana Akuffo-Addo to act timely on the elevation of the constitution to address current development of our governance.
By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com