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The Office of the President has requested that Parliament hold off on sending President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the newly enacted Anti-LGBT+ Bill for ratification.
The President referenced two cases that are now pending before the Supreme Court for an order of interlocutory injunction against the Bill.
In a statement issued on Monday, March 18, 2024, Secretary to the President Nana Bediatuo Asante said that President Akufo-Addo had been notified by the Attorney-General of the ongoing legal proceedings in a letter dated March 18, 2024.
“It has come to the attention of this Office that while the President and other senior officials of the Presidency were at Peduase for a Cabinet Retreat on Thursday, 14th March 2024, you attempted to submit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024 (the “Bill”) to Jubilee House for the President to signify his assent or otherwise to the Bill.
“This Office is aware of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction, both filed on 7th March 2024 in the Supreme Court in Dr. Amanda Odoi v. The Speaker of Parliament and The Attorney-General (J1/13/2023) and Richard Sky v. The Parliament of Ghana and The Attorney-General (31/9/2024) respectively, to restrain you and Parliament from transmitting the Bill to the President and, also, to restrain the President from signifying his assent to the Bill, pending the final determination of the matter,” part of the statement said.
It emphasized the need to avoid taking any actions that could potentially prejudice the outcome of the legal proceedings or undermine the authority of the court.
“The Attorney-General has, by letter dated 18th March 2024, informed the President that he has been duly served with both applications and has advised the President not to take any step in relation to the Bill until the matters raised by the suits are determined by the Supreme Court.
“It is the understanding of this Office that both applications have also been duly served on Parliament. Therefore, it would be improper for you to transmit the Bill to the President and equally improper for this Office to receive the Bill until the Supreme Court determines the matters raised in the suits.
“Indeed, it is settled law that, during the pendency of an interlocutory injunction application, the status quo ante ought to be preserved, and no action should be taken that would result in prejudicing the injunctive relief sought and undermining the authority of the court,” the statement added.
Read the full statement below:
The Parliament enacted an anti-LGBT+ Bill that outlaws LGBT activities and makes funding, campaigning, and promotion of the group illegal.
Promoters and sponsors face terms ranging from three to five years in prison, while those found guilty of these activities might face sentences as long as six months to three years in prison.
Citing a Supreme Court challenge to the Bill’s legality, President Akufo-Addo has postponed his decision on whether or not to sign it into law.
Members of Parliament have the power to override the president’s choice and impose the Bill’s provisions by a two-thirds majority, even in the event that he chooses against it.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
