Joseph Osei-Owusu, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament says House can only do business if Alban Bagbin, the Speaker presides over proceedings in the chamber.
Speaking with Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on the Asaase Breakfast Show, Osei-Owusu said, “Parliament will reconvene this morning (21 December) but we can only do business if Mr Bagbin presides. If speaker Bagbin doesn’t preside it’s pointless. Our opponents will rain their violence.”
“Yesterday he [Speaker Bagbin] was in the Chamber. And when he asked me to take over from him he said he will come [back] … we still do not know his whereabouts.”
He said the only advantage the Majority has over the Minority is just one vote and “any time the Speaker is not in sitting then it is to the disadvantage of the Majority”
“The only advantage the majority has over the minority is one vote. Anytime the Speaker is not around and the deputy takes over, then the majority is disadvantaged.”
“Never erred”
Osei-Owusu said he never erred in yielding the Speaker’s seat to the Second Deputy Speaker to continue with proceedings while he voted.
“The first thing we must understand is that as long as I remain a member of parliament, I can vote on any matter. The only time I lose my vote is when I’m presiding.”
“The only time I lose my right to vote is when I am presiding [as Speaker] … if I am not presiding I retain the same rights as any other,” Osei-Owusu said.
He added, “Once a deputy speaker is presiding we lose one vote … so any time is Bagbin is not around, based on what we are seeing this government will not be able to do anything; it makes nonsense of our Majority.”
Free-for-all fight
MPs shouted at each other and engaged in an open brawl in Parliament on Monday evening (20 December) as the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, vacated his seat to enable him also to cast a vote to pass the controversial E-Levy under a certificate of urgency.
The Minority contended that, under the standing orders of Parliament, Osei-Owusu, who was presiding yesterday, could not vote. However, the sit-in Speaker insisted that he had the right to vote and would do so.
The free-for-all ensued on the Speaker’s platform as Minority MPs attempted to seize his chair as he made his way out of the chamber in order for the Second Deputy Speaker, Andrews Amoako Asiamah, to take over.
The marshals had a tough time restoring order in the House as they wrestled with a group of MPs to protect the Speaker’s seat, his documents and the mace.
Eventually, Second Deputy Speaker Asiamah returned to the seat to adjourn sitting to Tuesday (21 December).
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