Audio By Carbonatix
The Editor-in-chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr says comments by the Speaker of Parliament on forming a quorum to take a decision in the House is problematic.
Alban Sumana Bagbin while addressing MPs on Thursday said a quorum to vote is formed based on the members present in Parliament not on the floor or in the Chamber.
But speaking to the host of Newsfile, Sammy Lardy Anyenini on Saturday, Kweku Baako took exception to the statement.
He argued that some of the precedents cited by Alban Bagbin concerning the forming of a quorum to make a decision were confusing.
"The speaker cited some precedents in making his case and I was a bit confused some of the precedents were quorum specific, once he did that there were areas that were for me confusing. I have difficulty with what the speaker did and I find something very significant and in all the precedents he cited, he did not mention the December 22, 2015 incident which is the most important of all these matters,” he said.
Basing his argument on the issue, Kweku Bako referenced Former Speaker Doe-Adjaho on an issue that had occurred in parliament on December 22 2015, where the House was voting on the one billion sovereign bonds.
He referenced, “There is a quorum to do business and that is one-third of the House and there is a quorum to take a decision so we need to draw a distinction between the quorum to do business and the quorum to make a decision. The quorum to take a decision is regulated by article 104(1). The fundamental question is that the time that the vote was taken did we have at least half of the honorable members present? It is a constitutional issue which had been captured in standing order 109(1) of our standing orders…”
According to him, Doe-Adjaho’s position meant that a quorum for a decision to be taken is formed based on the number present in the Chamber as at the time to vote is about to be taken.
Mr. Baako Jnr then clarified that Alban Bagbin was wrong in making such a statement.
Latest Stories
-
Ghana drawn with Brazil, Spain in crucial World Relays repechage race
28 minutes -
A nation that cannot employ its youth, cannot sustain peace – Kwamuhene urges urgent job creation
1 hour -
Annoh-Dompreh elected Chairman of PAP Committee on Health, Social Work and Labour
1 hour -
World Cup 2026: Injuries to key players ahead of tournament worrying – Kurt Okraku
1 hour -
Togo introduces fixed penalties for traffic offences
2 hours -
Amusan, Samukonga confirmed for Accra 2026
2 hours -
NADMO supports tidal waves victims in Anlo District
2 hours -
Vice President joins Effutu people to celebrate Aboakyer 2026
2 hours -
Tera Carissa Hodges joins global creatives to discuss cultural sovereignty at AfroCannes 2026
3 hours -
TCDA CEO leads charge to scale up cashew apple value addition opportunities
3 hours -
MGL’s May Day Egg market ends in resounding success as crowds turn out for affordable eggs
3 hours -
Energy expert advocates increased private-sector role in power distribution to tackle dumsor
3 hours -
Tony Asare Writes: A clotted artery, by-passes and detours
3 hours -
No road project cancelled under Mahama’s reset agenda — Roads Minister
4 hours -
Mahama praises IGP Yohunu, hails intelligence-led policing at Krobo-Odumase commissioning
4 hours