Anti-Gay Bill: Presidency Has No Right To Direct Parliament – Mahama

Former President of Ghana John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern about President Akufo-Addo’s directive to Parliament to stop the transference of the anti-gay bill to him for assent.

This came after the Office of the President in a letter dated March 18, 2024, requested Parliament to refrain from sending the anti-gay bill to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his approval.

According to the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, the decision stemmed from the acknowledgment of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction prior to the Supreme Court.

The applications sought to prevent Parliament from sending the Bill to the President and to restrain the President from signifying his assent to the Bill, pending the final determination of the matter.

In a release signed by Nana Bediatuo, on Monday, the office disclosed that the Attorney-General had informed the President through a letter dated March 18, 2024, that he had been duly served with both applications.

But amidst Mr. Mahama’s ‘Building Ghana Tour’, the NDC flagbearer said that the President’s Secretary does not have any authority to issue such directives, as Parliament operates independently.

Mahama affirmed the NDC’s commitment to adhering to laws and proper constitutional processes if elected.

“I woke up to see a letter from the president’s secretary to parliament warning them not to transmit the anti-gay bill to the presidency for signing. The president’s secretary doesn’t have the authority to write such a letter because parliament is constitutionally independent.

“You can say that you are waiting for the Supreme Court’s ruling, but you cannot tell the clerk not to submit the bill to the presidency. The letter smacks of disrespect, he’s acting as if he has power more than Parliament. It doesn’t augur well for good governance. As for us NDC, we abide by laws.”