Court rejects request to compel Akufo-Addo to receive anti-LGBTQ+ bill

An Accra High Court has turned down a request to compel President Nana Akufo-Addo to receive the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.

This follows a mandamus application filed by South Dayi Member of Parliament (MP) Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor on March 25.

In his suit, the South Dayi MP argued that President Akufo-Addo cannot prevent Parliament from transmitting a bill that has been passed to him.

Mr. Dafeamekpor, among other things, asked for a declaration that, according to Article 106(1) and (7) of the Constitution, a President can only assent to or refuse to assent to a bill within seven days unless the bill has been referred to the Council of State.

Therefore, he wanted a declaration that a letter dated March 18, 2024, addressed to the Clerk of Parliament and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, contravenes the constitution.

However, the High Court judge, Justice Ellen Mireku, dismissed the application.

Lawyers for the Attorney-General, represented by Chief State Attorney Sylvia Adeso, argued that the High Court had no jurisdiction to grant Mr Dafeamekpor’s application.

In its ruling on Monday (April 29), Justice Ellen Mireku said that although she had the discretion to grant the mandamus application, it was inappropriate to compel the respondents to act since there were still two pending applications before the apex court.

According to the judge, the two suits filed by private citizens, Prof Amanda Odoi and Richard Dela Sky, had direct implications on the mandamus application.