Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund to move four points clear of their hosts in the Bundesliga.
Julian Brandt had opened the scoring in the fifth minute only for Lewandowski to hit back almost immediately.
Kingsley Coman’s deflected effort then found the roof of the net but Erling Braut Haaland levelled after the break.
Lewandowski’s winning goal was his 66th minute from the spot.
Dortmund boss Marco Rose was booked earlier in the game when he felt his side should have had a penalty and was sent off for a second caution for his protests after Bayern were awarded the spot-kick.
There was also concern for Dortmund when Brandt was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a head injury during a collision with Dayot Upamecano.
Arthur Masuaku said he was as surprised as everyone else when his misdirected late cross beat Chelsea keeper Edouard Mendy to earn West Ham victory over the Premier League leaders in a pulsating encounter at London Stadium.
Thiago Silva broke the deadlock for Chelsea in the first half, heading Mason Mount’s corner past Lukasz Fabianski via the inside of the post.
West Ham equalised when Mendy brought down Jarrod Bowen following a poor backpass from Jorginho, allowing Manuel Lanzini to stroke home from the penalty spot.
Chelsea regained their advantage in spectacular fashion, Mount sending a superb side-footed volley into the corner from Hakim Ziyech’s low cross for his second goal in two games.
Bowen’s low drive from the edge of the area restored parity once more before Masuaku’s remarkable late winner.
Ralf Rangnick said his Manchester United side performed “better than expected” as he began his reign as interim manager with a narrow victory over Crystal Palace.
A more energetic United display looked like going unrewarded against a dogged Crystal Palace outfit until midfielder Fred struck first-time from Mason Greenwood’s lay-off to send a superb 20-yard effort curling over Vicente Guaita and into the top corner for the winner.
It was only Fred’s second goal of the season – and it was the first time since the middle of September that United have recorded back-to-back league wins.
Until the Brazilian’s effort, Rangnick’s side created numerous decent chances, without really looking as though they were going to score and Guaita would probably have saved an Alex Telles free-kick that skimmed the bar had it been on target.
“I am very happy with the way the team performed, especially the first half hour, with the pressing, it was exceptional,” Rangnick told BBC Match of the Day.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said his side had “reached their highest standard” of the season as they claimed a dominant win over Watford to move top of the Premier League for the first time in 2021-22.
Raheem Sterling headed the reigning champions ahead after only four minutes, when free at the back post to meet Phil Foden’s excellent cross from the left.
The hosts were repeatedly ripped apart by City’s movement, passing and creativity and only a number of saves from goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann kept the score down to one goal in the first 30 minutes.
But City got a well-deserved second as Bachmann denied Ilkay Gundogan, but the rebound fell to Bernardo Silva, who showed excellent skill to beat two defenders and finish well from a tight angle.
Silva then grabbed his second and City’s third, cutting in from the right side of the penalty area and curling a fine finish past Bachmann.
Cucho Hernandez pulled one back for Watford, following in to convert a rebound after his first strike had hit the foot of the post.
Justice Ato Mensah scored a brace for Elmina Sharks FC to give them a 2-1 win against Karela United in their Match Day 6 Premier League encounter at the Nduom stadium.
Elmina Sharks went into the game without Coach Nii Odartey Lamptey who resigned last week after their 3-1 loss to Eleven Wonders.
Two goal hero Ato Mensah made a rear start yet proved his Coach right by scoring a brace as he took the place of Osuman Awudu.
Elmina Sharks opened the scoring inside 19th through Ato Mensah who smashed home a powerful header.
Ato Mensah doubled the advantage for the hosts nine minutes after the break with a beautiful strike to title things in favour of the Elmina lads.
With eight minutes of proceedings remaining, Substitute Kelvin Andoh got the consolation for Karela United to restore some hope but it was too little.
Emmanuel Gyamfi scored a brace and provided an assist as Aduana FC defeated WAFA 3-0 in their Match Day 6 Ghana Premier League fixture at the Nana Agyemang Badu Park I at Dormaa Saturday.
Defender Hafiz Adams opened the scoring for Aduana FC from close range in the 9th minute with an assist from the diminutive winger who joined from Asante Kotoko this season.
Emmanuel Gyamfi then got his first of the day and second for the two – time League Champions after popping up from behind to connect a delightful pass from Bright Adjei as Aduana FC took a two goal advantage into the break.
Back from recess, WAFA conceded a penalty in the 61st minute when defender Derrick Mensah was penalized for a cynical tackle on Hafiz Adams as he flew a tackle in his armpit. But Bright Adjei missed the spot kick as goalkeeper Osei Bonsu pulled a brilliant save to keep the score line unchanged.
Gyamfi then completed his brace after connecting a brilliant pass from Eric Kwakwa inside 71 minutes to make it 3-0 for the Dormaa lads who have already lost one game at home this season.
The Ghana Premier League continued into Week 6 this weekend with Gt. Olympics sharing the spoils with Bechem United at their own backyard.
Oly were held to a goalless tie at the Accra Sports Stadium as both sides were on top of their game, lightning strikes in the waning moments of the game but failed to struck home as Bechem United picked up a point in the nation’s capital.
Bechem United proved too tough for the Dade Boys to crack at home as they managed to share the spoils with the home team.
Olympics started brightly with some swift superb passes, combining beautifully to create chances but failed to score.
Bechem set the tone early as they went in search of all the 3 points.
Bechem United came on strongly after the resumption but wasted clear chances. Oly, who are still not consistent with their game are 9points off the league log. Bechem are at the fourth spot with 10 points.
AshantiGold SC failed to make their home count as they were held by Legon Cities FC to a scoreless stalemate at the Len Clay Stadium in Obuasi on Sunday.
The matchday six encounter saw the Miners and the Royals create very few scoring opportunities in the end. Cities winless run has now been stretched to four matches, while AshantiGold failed to win at home for the second time this campaign.
AshantiGold stop-gap coach Thomas Duah made five changes to the team that were beaten 2-0 in Tamale by RTU last week.
Maxwell Konadu on the other hand made four alterations to the squad that lost at home to Aduana Stars in the last round in Accra. Cities nearly got the opening goal of the match in the 41st minute when Jonah Attuquaye’s free-kick from the edge of the box struck the woodwork.
AshantiGold came close again in the second half but Abdul Salam’s effort was cleared off the line by a Cities with a rebound by Addai also blocked.
AshantiGold will make a journey to Sogakope to take on WAFA SC in the next round whereas Cities host Berekum Chelsea in Accra.
Zubeiru Ibrahim's hat-trick brings Kotoko down to earth
Asante Kotoko suffered their first defeat of the season against King Faisal in the Kumasi derby at the Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.
King Faisal forward Zubairu Ibrahim stole the show with a hat-trick to help the Isha Allah Boys secure an impressive 3-2 victory.
Cameroonian Mfegue Omgba’s brace wasn’t enough to save Kotoko who because of the shock defeat have lost their position as league leaders with King Faisal taking their place.
It’s King Faisal’s first league win against Kotoko in seven years.
They achieved it with by far their best performance of the campaign. King Faisal raced into a two-goal lead before the 20th minute mark.
Before halftime, Kotoko were awarded a penalty but referee Julian Nunoo rescinded the decision after consulting fourth official Daniel Laryea.
Kotoko returned from the break determined to preserve their unbeaten run. They halved the deficit two minutes into the half, courtesy of Omgba.
The Porcupine Warriors pushed more men forward in search of the equaliser and they paid the ultimate price as Ibrahim completed his hat-trick in the 68th minute.
Omgba scored his second in the 72nd minute and set up a nerve-wracking ending to the game. King Faisal were resolute to withstand the constant attacks by Kotoko.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority Leader and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei Owusu
Parliament of Ghana in session
The Majority Caucus in the 8th Parliament used a precedent set by the Speaker of the 6th Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho, to overturn a decision by the current Minority Caucus, through the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
In 2015, the then Speaker, Adjaho, relying on Order 109 of the Standing Orders of Parliament, overturned a decision the House had taken.
Yesterday, the House reconvened after rising last Friday with a decision that the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy had been rejected.
Meanwhile, the Majority, without their colleagues on the other side, raised the matter when the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, was in the Chair, leading to proceedings that nullified the Friday decision and approved the motion on the 2022 Budget, which question was put again.
Doe Adjaho’s Cane
Addressing the media after the day’s proceedings, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, expressed shock that the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, could not avert his mind to that precedent.
He recounted that a decision had been taken by the House, and that Rt. Hon. Adjaho came with a statement to nullify it.
He explained that though the then First Deputy Speaker, Ebo Barton Oduro, relying on Order 109, had nullified a voting process, the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Doe Adjao, made a formal statement to affirm the decision of his deputy.
“…Later in the day, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edward Kobi Doe Adjaho, again ruled on the same matter as follows. Hon. Members, you are aware that this House is not supreme. We are subject to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. The rule is that where the Constitution has made a provision for the regulation of the business of the House, they take precedence over any order. Indeed, the Standing Orders of this House, there is [a] quorum to do business, and that is one-third of the House, and there is [a] quorum to take a decision. So, we need to draw a distinction between the quorum to do business and the quorum to take a decision. The quorum to take a decision is regulated by Article 104 (1). The fundamental question is this: at the time that the vote was taken, did we have, at least, half of the honourable members present? It is a Constitutional issue which has been captured by Standing Order 109(1) of our Standing Orders. If we go by the results of the head count, by adding 67 to 66, we will get 133. Therefore, there is a serious constitutional issue here. So, at the time that the votes were taken, this House lacked the legal, in fact, the constitutional capacity to take a decision. So, I entirely endorse the position of the First Hon. Deputy Speaker that we do not have the numbers, constitutionally speaking, to take a decision. Therefore, in respect of this, no decision has been taken,” the Majority Leader quoted the former Speaker Adjaho, adding: “So, nobody is manufacturing this from anywhere.”
On the Floor
The press briefing by the Majority was preceded by the last sitting of the day, which commenced six hours after the advertised time of 10:00GMT.
The House, which began and adjourned with only the Majority Caucus, went through all its private matters, and just when the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, directed for public business to commence, the Majority Leader raised an issue on the votes and proceedings of Friday, November 26, 2021.
Majority want decision un-turned
He stood on Order 50 (1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament to have the House correct what he described as an illegality.
The order permits a member to, at the time appointed for order of business, with the prior approval of the Speaker, move a motion on a specific matter of urgent public importance.
He prayed the Speaker, while referring to the votes and proceedings that it could not be the case that the 2022 Budget was rejected, as the records indicated that a head count was conducted and only 137 members were present at the time of the vote.
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu read Article 104 (1) of the Constitution, and Order 109 (1) of the Standing Orders of Parliament, which states that a question can be put if half of the entire members of the House are present.
“…So, Mr. Speaker, I invite you to uphold the motion and, indeed, by inference, set aside the impropriety. Because, as I’ve argued, what happened that day is a nullity, because it does not meet the test established by Article 104. So, Mr. Speaker, I beg to move,” he ended.
Secondment
The motion moved by the Majority Leader was seconded by the Deputy, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. In doing so, he raised some issues to further fortify the prayer of the applicant.
The first was whether or not the First Deputy Speaker was clothed with powers to rule on the motion. He quoted Order 13, which permits a deputy to take charge when the House is informed by the clerk that the table that the Speaker is unavoidably absent.
The said subsection 2 of the order states that the first deputy speaker shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker in relation to the proceedings of the House.
“So, Mr. Speaker, you are fortified to consider this application,” he said, adding that the constitutional provision the majority leader relied on clearly indicates the numbers required.
He said that half of the 275 was 138, but the records showed that at the time of the decision, 137 members were present.
Further relying on Article 104 of the 1992 Constitution, he stressed that the threshold of 138 should have been met.
He also indicated that the said provision further demands that even if the minimum number is present, a majority of them must take the decision.
Based on that, he argued that the motion was well-rooted and that the invitation to the Speaker was right, and needed his full consideration to set aside that which took place.
Regret
The First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, said it was regrettable that none of the minority caucus was in the chamber to respond to the issues raised.
He stated that the leadership of both sides had been in a meeting from morning to afternoon and agreed that proceedings would commence at 1530GMT. He said he had no information on their absence.
“So, it’s a pity that there is nobody here so I could hear their views on the motion before me,” he remarked.
Head Count
The First Deputy Speaker then read order 109 (1) of the Standing Orders, saying that before he took any decision, he would want to be sure the right numbers were present.
He directed the clerks at the table to count the members who were present, during which non-MPs, the ministers for Finance and National Security had to leave the Chamber.
After the counting, the Speaker said that the number presented to him by the clerks at the table was 137, “plus me, MP for Bekwai, 138.”
Ruling
Having satisfied himself that the minimum numbers were present, the first deputy speaker explained that by the provisions of order 109, a majority of half of the members present and voting can take a decision.
He said that his attention had been drawn to the records, and clearly, the numbers present were not half the total number of members, and such a decision could not have been taken.
He said that the Rt Hon Speaker appeared not to have averted his mind to the provisions, and may not have fallen into that error if his attention had been drawn to them.
Setting that background, he put the question for the motion to set aside what happened last Friday, and the ayes had it, overturning the previous decision.
Winding up
The First Deputy Speaker said that last Friday, the Finance Minister could not wind up the debate as had been the practice. He said what happened was that the Minister prayed for an opportunity to engage the Minority, which request was denied, but the same did not take his right to sum up.
He gave him the opportunity yesterday. The Finance Minister said that issues of the minority would be addressed at the committee level, including that of Aker Energy.
On the Agyapa, he said consultations had not ended as the Attorney General was still working on that and any such issue would be brought to Parliament.
He mentioned the Brekusu in the Volta Region and said that the government would quickly move to address the issue. The minister mentioned the issue of the benchmark and defended why it should be allowed to be taken off.
The minister further held that the E-levy was very important to the government at this critical moment in the economy when it wanted to create jobs.
He said that the government was in consultation with the telecommunication companies to scale back to moderate the impact of the 1.75% e-levy.
2022 Budget approved
After listening to the Finance Minister’s concluding remarks on the budget, the Speaker put the question on whether or not the 2022 Budget statement and economic policy should be approved, a question the House answered in the affirmative.
Minority
Minutes after their decision was thrashed out, the Minority spoke to the press, through its leader, Haruna Iddrisu, and said the Majority had also committed an illegality, as they also had 137 members.
The Minority argued that the First Deputy Speaker could not count himself because he was in the position of a speaker and not an MP.
They said that going forward, cooperation between the other sides is lost because the government did not listen to their concerns on the E-levy, victims of the tidal waves, Aker Energy, and the Agyapa deal.
