A former Attorney General under the Rawlings led NDC administration, Dr. Yaw Obed Asamoah has described as an error, the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Ajaho’s refusal to be sworn in as acting President.
He is therefore calling on the presidency to hold discussions with the Speaker over his continuous refusal to swear the oath as acting President.
[contextly_sidebar id=”I6ymwyTkRzVeX7ebwjRe83G74Y7Kzrif”]“I think they need to sit around and discuss the issue with the Speaker. They should come to conclusion that it is more legal and constitutional. I think that from my point of view, as the law demands, at each time the President is out of the country, the Speaker should be sworn in,” he maintained.
Edward Doe Ajaho was to be sworn in as acting President as stipulated in the country’s 1992 constitution last Wednesday, due to the absence of the President, John Mahama and his Vice, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
But the Speaker assumed the role of acting President without taking the mandatory constitutional oath of office.
Speaker of Parliament, for the second time refused to be sworn in as President when Mahama traveled to Nigeria to embark on an official visit to the Vatican in Italy.
The Speaker’s decision has generated huge legal debate among Ghanaians.
A private legal practitioner, Kwame Akuffo had earlier described as “completely absurd,” the Speaker’s refusal to be sworn in as acting President.
“Doe Adjaho’s entry into the Presidency without the oath itself is completely absurd…if that oath is not taken, then that oath which is a critical part of the constitution has been breached,” he remarked.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News, Dr. Obed Asamoah said the difference in opinion between the leaders of the Executive and Legislature calls for discussion to arrive at a consensus on the matter.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana