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Akufo-Addo’s letter to Parliament a monumental threat to democracy – Haruna Iddrisu

Source The Ghana Report

Tamale South MP, Haruna Iddrisu, has raised concerns over a letter from the Presidency urging Parliament not to forward the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to President Akufo-Addo for assent.

The letter from the Presidency, dated March 18, 2024, cited pending legal challenges before the Supreme Court, as justification for the decision.

Expressing his dismay, the former minority leader said the letter was a reflection of President Akufo-Addo’s quest to dominate other organs of government.

“I am unable to sleep because this is a monumental threat to Ghana’s democracy and a monumental threat to Parliament as an institution. By Article 93, we are clothed with legislative authority and legislative mandate.

“This letter only reflects President Akufo-Addo’s quest for predominance over other organs of state, and that is unacceptable and must be fought by all persons who love democracy and who cherish the principles and values of the 1992 Constitution,” he said to journalists in Parliament.

Mr Iddrisu emphasised the constitutional framework of separation of powers and division of responsibilities among the executive, legislature, and judiciary.

He further questioned the authority of the president’s secretary to correspond with the clerk of Parliament instead of the president directly addressing the Speaker of Parliament as required by Parliament’s standing orders.

He urged the clerk to disregard the letter, asserting its lack of official status without direct communication from the president.

It will be recalled that Parliament in early February 2024, approved the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.

With the approval, persons who promote, sponsor, and support LGBTQ+ activities will face a custodial sentence of three to five years.

Those caught engaging in LGBTQ+ activities are to face a minimum sentence of six months and a maximum of three years.

The passage of the bill has triggered reactions from some of Ghana’s development partners, international financial institutions, and CSOs in the country.

The Finance Ministry has since urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to assent to the anti-LGBTQI+ bill.

The ministry warned that such action could have severe repercussions on the country’s financial support from international organisations like the Bretton Woods Institutions.

The Attorney-General has also advised the President against taking any action until the legal issues raised by the applicants are resolved.

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