Anti-LGBTQ+: “Bediatuo’s letter smacks of disrespect, he’s acting as if he has power more than Parliament” – Mahama

John Dramani Mahama, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, has expressed reservations over President Akufo-Addo’s order to Parliament to stop sending the anti-gay bill to him for ratification.

In a letter dated March 18, 2024, the Office of the President asked Parliament to hold off on giving President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the anti-gay law for his approval.

But Mr. Mahama attacked the Presidency on his “Building Ghana Tour,” saying that Parliament functions independently and the President’s Secretary does not have the right to provide such orders.

He underlined that the move violated the fundamentals of good government by demonstrating disdain for Parliament and its Clerk.

If elected, Mahama reaffirmed the NDC’s commitment to upholding the law and the correct constitutional procedures.

“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.”

The Supreme Court’s acknowledgment of two outstanding claims for an order of interlocutory injunction was the reason for the decision, according to President Nana Bediatuo Asante’s secretary.

In order to delay the resolution of the issue, the applicants attempted to stop Parliament from forwarding the Bill to the President and to stop the President from indicating his approval of the Bill.

The office revealed on Monday, in a statement signed by Nana Bediatuo, that the Attorney-General had notified the President in a letter dated March 18, 2024, that he had been properly served with both applications.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com