The Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has voiced his concerns regarding President Akufo-Addo’s reluctance to endorse certain private member’s bills.
In correspondence to Parliament, the President cited potential financial implications on the state’s consolidated fund and a breach of Article 108 of the constitution as reasons for his refusal to approve the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, both sponsored by Mr. Sosu.
Critics argue that the country will suffer from the President’s failure to sign the anti-witchcraft law, especially after the implementation of the death penalty.
During an interview on Citi TV’s Face to Face, Mr. Sosu criticized the President’s insistence on having Parliament introduce the bills in his name as “untenable”.
“The status is that the President has indicated to Parliament that he wanted those bills to be introduced in his name. The legal argument made by the President before the Parliament of Ghana, honestly speaking is not tenable.
“With all due respect to the President. I believe that the President was misled on those matters. Hopefully, the President still has an opportunity between now and the end of the year to do something about them.”
Mr. Sosu expressed optimism that both local and international bodies will urge the presidency to approve the bills.
“It’s the reason why on be issue of the Witchcraft Accusation Bill, which I believe is so critical to the protection of women in Ghana. I have filed five different petitions, I have petitioned the UN, Human Rights Commission, AU Commission, ECOWAS, Council of State, and CHRAJ and hoping that the President will take some swift action on these matters. I’m hoping that all these international bodies will bring some form of persuasion on the presidency to assent these bills.”