Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has announced that significant changes have been made to the House’s standing orders, allowing deputy speakers to cast their votes discreetly during parliamentary proceedings.
This alteration aims to put an end to the disorder and confusion that had previously characterized the voting process within the House.
Previously, deputy speakers were excluded from participating in the voting process during parliamentary sessions. However, with the revised standing orders, Deputy Speakers now have the opportunity to express their voting preferences by silently communicating their choices to the clerks.
This update is a result of extensive efforts to revise the standing orders, a task that had been ongoing since 2002 but was successfully completed within a three-year period.
Alban Bagbin addressed this development during a public forum held in Tarkoradi. He explained that when either the first or second deputy speakers preside over sessions in his absence, they can now signal their voting preference to the clerks without vocalizing their choice.
This new approach prevents the confusion that would arise if both the deputy speakers and other members were vocally expressing their support or opposition to a matter.
It’s worth noting that the Supreme Court had previously, in April 2022, unanimously rejected a plea to review its earlier verdict regarding the voting rights of deputy speakers or members presiding in parliament.
The individual who initiated the case sought a review on the grounds that the initial judgment had led to a miscarriage of justice due to exceptional circumstances.
Source – citinewsroom.com
