News:
January 29, 2018
Leader of government business and Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, has urged Parliament to assume its rightful position under Article 298 by offering the proper and relevant amendment to the constitution, in other to allow the Chief Justice whenever duty calls to enable her administer the proper oath of allegiance to the Speaker.
He agreed with the Minority leader that the Speaker should not be subjected to multiple taking of the Presidential oath.
According to the Majority leader, Article 298 “subject to the provision of chapter 25 of this Constitution, where on any matter, whether arising out of this constitution or otherwise there is no provision, express or by necessary implication of this Constitution which deals with the matter, that has arisen, Parliament shall, by an Act of Parliament, not being inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution, provide for that matter to be dealt with”.
First Deputy Speaker of the House, Joseph Osei Owusu adviced the Majority leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu not to engage in further constitutional matters on the oath taking of the President since there would be another time for such a debate.
“Whenever the President is absent from Ghana or is for any other reason unable to perform his function, Mr. Speaker we should be careful, the wording is not “whenever” the President is absent from Ghana or is for a reason unable to perform his function – “It says if for any other reason which means that absence from Ghana is construed to be one of the inabilities to perform his function”
“Mr. Speaker that is the understanding of that wording, we cannot disconnect A from B that is a clear understanding of this is the Queens language those of them with proficiency in the Queens language should explain to the others”.
We would reserve this for a future debate that is the clear understanding of that construction, I would not want to debate it now but hopes at the appropriate time it would be debated, he said.
He congratulated he Speaker Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye for acting in the absence of the President and ensuring that nothing untoward happened and hope for the second time same would be the story.
By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com