Member of Parliament for Kumbungu Constituency Ras Mubarak says he is going to talk to his lawyers to seek interpretation of the constitutional provision on the several swearing-in of the Speaker of Parliament in the absence of the President and Vice President.
The Speaker, Aaron Mike Oquaye, is scheduled to be sworn in on Saturday as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo travels to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for an AU session.
Already, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is on medical leave.
This is in accordance with Article 60(11) of the 1992 Constitution.
Saturday’s exercise, however, will come almost a week after a similar one last Sunday when the president travelled to Liberia for the investiture of President George Manneh Weah.
But the announcement by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on Friday to have Members congregate on Saturday for the event got some – especially the Minority members – protesting.
Some claimed it was a waste of time and the provision in the constitution must be revisited.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, on his part, called for a “holistic” review of the constitution over the issue.
But Kumbungu MP Ras Mubarak told 3FM that he is likely to seek legal clarification over the issue.
Though the matter has once been ruled on by the Supreme Court, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority said the same court can review its order.
According to him, one swearing-in event is enough to cover any subsequent times the Speaker is to act as president.
Since the president will return on Wednesday, Right Honourable Oquaye will act as president till then.
Source: 3news.com|Ghana