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Governance Lecturer at the Central University, Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah, has thrown his support for the Supreme Court ruling that the Deputy Speaker of Parliament is a Member of Parliament and has a voting right.

The right of the Deputy Speaker to vote or be counted as part of Members of Parliament (MPs) to form a quorum was settled by the Supreme Court following a contention between the Majority and Minority in Parliament.

The Majority and Minority, in the year past, traded punches in the chamber when the Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, acting as Speaker of Parliament; attempted to hand over his seat to the Second Deputy Speaker in order to join the Majority to cast a vote on the government's e-levy proposal before the House.

On Wednesday, March 9, 2022, a seven member panel adjudicating the case unanimously ruled that a "Deputy Speaker is entitled to be counted as a member of Parliament for quorum" and can as well "vote and take part in the decision of parliament".

Following the court ruling, there have been criticisms from the Minority and some members of the opposition party who vehemently disagree with the court.

Former President John Mahama, in a post shared across his official social media handles, described the ruling as "shocking but not surprising" and added the Apex Court has set "a dangerous precedent of judicial interference in Parliamentary procedure for the future", a Graphic Online publication cited.

Sam Nartey George, a Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, also described the ruling as despicable, tweeting "the sham called Justice delivery in our Republic. Despicable!".

Reacting to the issue on Peace FM's 'Kokrokoo', Dr. Benjamin Otchere-Ankrah appealed to the parties to refrain from politicizing the Supreme Court ruling.

Reading Articles 1 (clause 2), 125 (3) and 130 (1b), he opined that the constitution gives the Judiciary the authority by the constitution to adjudicate matters which infract the laws of the land.

He, therefore, cautioned the MPs saying, "the Supreme Court is doing it's job. Let's not make it NDC/NPP issues . . . I plead that we should the Judiciary to go about its business''.