The disagreement arose when Joseph Osei Owusu, presiding in place of Bagbin, dismissed a private member's motion filed by three members of the Minority Caucus. The motion sought to constitute a bi-partisan parliamentary committee to probe COVID-19 expenditure. Bagbin had initially admitted the motion, but Osei Owusu ruled that the work of such a committee was already provided for by the Constitution and would be conducted by the Auditor General and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Bagbin expressed his disapproval of Osei Owusu's ruling, describing it as "unconstitutional, illegal, and offensive." He stated that despite his disapproval, he would not take steps to overrule the decision. This incident marks the second time Osei Owusu has overruled Bagbin's directive, with the first instance occurring in 2021 when Osei Owusu overruled Bagbin's directive to stand down the approval of the 2022 budget statement and economic policy.
The motion, filed by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, and the Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, sought to investigate the government's expenditure on COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. The motion was initially captured in the order paper for November 4, 2021.
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has previously expressed concerns over Osei Owusu's tendency to overrule his rulings. Bagbin emphasized that such actions undermine his authority and the smooth functioning of the parliament. The incident highlights the deepening disagreements between the two major parties in Ghana's parliament, particularly given Bagbin's perceived alignment with the opposition party.
The current parliament has no side with an absolute majority, which has contributed to the heightened tensions between the parties. The disagreements have sparked concerns about the potential impact on the effective functioning of the parliament and the country's governance.
The issue has also raised questions about the balance of power within the parliament and the need for the parties to find common ground to ensure the smooth operation of the legislative body. The Speaker's role in maintaining order and ensuring the effective functioning of the parliament has come under scrutiny, with many calling for a resolution to the disagreements between Bagbin and Osei Owusu.
Key points
- The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has clashed with his First Deputy, Joseph Osei Owusu, over the latter's decision to dismiss a motion seeking to investigate the government's COVID-19 expenditure.
- The motion, filed by the Minority Caucus, sought to constitute a bi-partisan parliamentary committee to probe COVID-19 expenditure.
- The incident highlights the deepening disagreements between the two major parties in Ghana's parliament, particularly given Bagbin's perceived alignment with the opposition party.
