In a significant development, the Office of the President has formally urged Parliament to refrain from transmitting the contentious Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, for President Akufo-Addo’s assent.
The request comes in light of ongoing legal challenges before the Supreme Court, as outlined in a letter addressed to Parliament and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, on Monday, March 18.
The letter underscored the impropriety of advancing the bill’s transmission to President Akufo-Addo while crucial legal matters remain unresolved in the highest court of the land.
Furthermore, it was revealed that the Attorney-General has advised the President against taking any action on the bill until the legal issues raised by the ongoing suits are duly adjudicated by the Supreme Court.
The communication from the Office of the President also shed light on a concerning incident where Parliament attempted to transmit the bill to President Akufo-Addo while he and senior officials were away attending a Cabinet Retreat at Peduase on Thursday, March 14.
Call for Adherence to Constitutional Processes
In response to these developments, the Office of the President has urged Parliament to exercise restraint and refrain from transmitting the bill until the Supreme Court provides clarity on the legal issues at hand.
Complexity of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
The Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill has been a subject of intense debate and scrutiny, drawing both support and criticism from various quarters within Ghanaian society and the international community.
The request from the Office of the President to halt the transmission of the bill underscores the complexity and sensitivity surrounding the issue, emphasizing the importance of legal clarity and due process in addressing matters of national significance.
