GRi in Parliament 01 - 03 - 2002

Parliamentary business slag by Supreme Court ruling

Accra (Greater Accra) 01 March 2002 - Parliament on Thursday had its share of the joy and pain that followed the Supreme Court ruling outlawing fast track courts in the country.

Members of both the Majority and Minority had been uncomfortable with speculations on the judgment earlier in the day until 12 noon when most radio stations confirmed the decision of the Supreme Court.

Business in the house nearly suffered as members preferred the whispers on the most current news in town to the rather fading debate on the budget. Mr John Tia, NDC, Talensi, appealed to the chair to stop the whispering on floor and accused the majority of being the offenders

Papa Owusu Ankoma, Majority Leader, said the news making the rounds was a welcomed one for the Minority so the Majority could be doing the whispering. In a about an hour, Mr. John Mahama, NDC-Bole, made an unsolicited announcement on the ruling before his contribution to the debate on the budget.

Members of the Minority openly celebrated in the foyer and offices of the Minority with champagne while some of their counterparts in the majority argued their way out of the foyer, preferring the "exit" labelled doors to the sofas in the lobby.

GRi../

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