The Clerk to Parliament, Cyril Nsiah, has contacted the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, seeking clarification on when to transmit the Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill.
This request follows a controversial letter from Mr. Bediatuo that advised Parliament not to transmit the Bill to President Akufo-Addo for his assent.
In his letter to Mr. Bediatuo dated Wednesday, April 10, Mr. Nsiah stated his intention to transmit the Bill in accordance with Article 106(7) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your Letter No. OPS 140/1/24/235 dated 18th March, 2024 on the above subject matter and received in my Office on 19th March, 2024.”
“I have taken note of the contents of the letter, particularly the text in the last paragraph, which states that “In the circumstances, you are kindly requested to cease and desist from transmitting the Bill to the President until matters before the Supreme Court are resolved.”
“Accordingly, I await an indication in writing from your Office on when to present the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024 to His Excellency the President for his consideration, pursuant to article 106(7) of the Constitution, 1992.”
After the controversial letter dated March 18, 2024, in which the presidency requested parliament not to send the anti-gay bill to President Akufo-Addo for his assent due to pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction against the bill, there was widespread condemnation of the presidency’s stance. In response, parliament suspended the vetting process for President Akufo-Addo’s newly nominated ministers.
The letter emphasized that it would be improper for Parliament to proceed with transmitting the Bill to President Akufo-Addo for any action until the legal matters before the court are resolved. It was also revealed that the Attorney-General had advised the President against taking any action regarding the Bill until the legal issues raised in the lawsuits are addressed by the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, an Accra High Court has granted an application for the abridgment of time for the hearing of the case seeking to compel President Akufo-Addo to receive the Anti-LGBTQ bill from parliament. This case, filed by NDC MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, seeks several declarations over the President’s refusal to receive the bill from Parliament.
