At the moment of voting on the supposed rejected budget today, November 30, 2021, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, was the last member on the majority side to make the numbers 138.
Today’s activity in parliament was presided over by Joe Wise, who declared that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, along with himself, form a majority to overturn the budget statement’s rejection.
This comes after the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, submitted a resolution on the floor of parliament to have the November 26 budget rejection overturned.
Before making a determination on the matter, the acting Speaker asked the Clerk to count the number of MPs president to ascertain whether the MPs “present” and ready to participate in “voting” represented more than one-half of the house.
“Honorable members, the numbers presented to me by the Clerks at table is 137 of you plus me, MP for Bekwai, 138. Honourable members, for the avoidance of doubt. Let me read out the Constitutional requirement, so that there is no confusion as to who can vote…what numbers are required to vote to take a decision. Article 104 (1) except as otherwise provided in the constitution matters of parliament shall be determined by the majority of members present and voting.
“The majority of members present and voting with at least half of all members of parliament present. What this means is that before you take a decision the must be at least majority of all members present. With me we are 138 members. That’s a majority,” he explained.
