First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim, has alleged that President Akufo-Addo is employing various strategies to avoid giving assent to the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
The bill, criminalizing LGBTQ+ activities, promotion, advocacy, and funding, was approved by Parliament on February 28, 2024.
President Akufo-Addo has committed to awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling on a legal challenge by Richard Sky before making a decision on the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
In an interview with Citi News, the Member of Parliament for Banda suggests that President Akufo-Addo is attempting to delay signing the bill into law.
He pointed out that if the president doesn’t sign the bill within seven days, he is obligated to refer it to the Council of State for advice.
“The president I know is buying time. He used every avenue and wanted us to delay the bill so that it doesn’t come to Jubilee House under his time for him to sign. That is why they wanted to put it down, bring other bills, we finish them, and they will bring others until Parliament said if we don’t finish this one, we will not do anything else. That is when they realized their hands were tied, and it was passed.”
“Now, by Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution, the president is mandated to refer the bill within seven days to the Council of State if he doesn’t want to sign it.”