Ahiafor Votes as Speaker, Citing Supreme Court Ruling on Voting Rights
On December 19, 2025, Bernard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Akatsi South, exercised his right to vote while presiding over a motion vote, following a recent Supreme Court ruling. This landmark decision confirmed that Deputy Speakers are entitled to vote during proceedings, overturning a previous unconstitutional Standing Order that restricted their participation. During the vote, Ahiafor conducted a headcount, which showed 154 votes in favor of the motion. He then cast his own vote, bringing the total to 155. The Supreme Court's ruling not only affirms the voting rights of Deputy Speakers but also clarifies that they can be counted towards quorum requirements under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Ahiafor emphasized the importance of this ruling for enhancing democratic processes within Parliament.