Speaker Quells Minority Revolt

The Speaker of Parliament Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, last Friday quelled an attempted insurrection from the Minority by exhibiting his knowledge of the standing orders in support of his ruling, says the Daily Guide, a private-owned paper.

Mr Ala Adjetey's ruling on the motion on the National Reconstruction Levy Bill had been challenged by the Minority, who demanded a headcount.

After a heated debate on the bill, the Speaker put the question asking those in support of the Bill to say "aye", which the Majority did.

When he said those against should say "Nay", the Minority shouted 'Nay'! He then ruled that the "aye" had the vote.

However, the Minority challenged the ruling and called for a head-count.

The Speaker then said that those in support of his decision that the "yes" have the vote should stand on their feet to be counted but this declaration of "my decision" attracted shouts of "you are biased" and murmurs from the Minority.

The Speaker then quickly referred the House and the shouting Minority to Standing Order 113(3), which reads "in case of a head count, Mr Speaker shall take votes of the House by calling upon members who support or oppose his decision successively to rise in their place" stressing on "my decision", and asking why the murmurs and shouts.

At the start of the count, many members of the Majority side rushed in from outside the chamber to be counted but this was however, challenged by the Minority.

Again, the Speaker with authority, referred the House to Standing Order 113(4), which reads, "a member may vote in a division even if he did not hear the question put", and there was dead silence from the Minority.

The Majority, in the ensuing count, pulled 94 votes as against 82 by the Minority.