Speaker's directive to road minister is an error-NPP researcher speaks on road toll controversy

In reference to the constitution, the research officer who is also a law student cited Article 127 (1&2), in which he explained that the speaker cannot rule on his own authority and give directions.

Speaker's directive to road minister is an error-NPP researcher speaks on road toll controversy
Speaker Alban Bagbin

 Research and Relations Officer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Tain Constituency in the Bono Regio, Joseph Dwomoh, says the speaker of parliament's directive to the roads and highways minister to reverse the ceased collection of road tolls is an error.

He insists the speaker, Alban Bagbin does not have the 'task' in this regard, making it wrong for him to give such an order as the official position of Parliament.

 “Based on standards of the constitution of Ghana, the legislatures are there to enact laws, but the interpretations of the law are not in their hands", he stated.

In reference to the constitution, the research officer who is also a law student cited Article 127 (1&2), in which he explained that the speaker cannot rule on his own authority and give directions.

"The Speaker is not above the house, he is not a Member of Parliament, so the speaker’s ruling is to convey the position of the house. So to start, I think that the Speaker erred in his ruling and he should consider it again", he told the media.

While defending the minister’s move, he said the Speaker had no locus as far as this issue is concerned.

 "If Hon. Bagbin says if the road minister does not withdraw his order on cessation of the road tolls, it will amount to contempt of parliament is wrong. In any case, the minister does not seek his power from the legislature. If the speaker thinks the minister has a fault, he should take the matter to the court, because he (speaker) has no right to call the road minister to the Parliament", he bemoaned.

Nana Ama Asiedu, Bono Region