First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Akatsi South, Bernard Ahiafor, on Thursday 19 December 19, 2025 participated in a motion vote while presiding over proceedings, citing a Supreme Court decision that grants a Deputy Speaker the right to vote.
During the sitting, Ahiafor conducted a headcount and called on Members of Parliament to take their seats before putting the motion to a vote.
He first invited members opposing the motion to indicate, followed by those in support.
After the votes were counted, the Deputy Speaker announced that 154 members had voted in favour of the motion. He subsequently invoked a Supreme Court ruling and Standing Order 152(5) to justify casting an additional vote as the presiding officer.
“By the decision of the Supreme Court and by our Standing Order 152(5), if the person presiding is a Deputy Speaker, he has a vote to cast, that vote is in the support of the ayes. The total, the total is now 155, “ Ahiafor stated on the floor of the House.
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The Supreme Court has ruled that a Deputy Speaker of Parliament, or any other member of the legisture presiding over business of the House, does not lose his or her right to vote while presiding.
Such a Speaker or Member can also be counted as part of the quorum for decision making in the House under article 104(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
The Court, consequently, struck down Order 109 (3) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, describing it as “unconstitutional”.
The Order provides that a Deputy Speaker or any other member of Parliament presiding over the business of the House shall not retain his or her original vote while presiding.
AM
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