The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, on Wednesday, 20th March 2024 suspended the approval of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State following an injunction filed at the Supreme Court by the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor.
This decision comes on the back of a letter from the Presidency directing Parliament not to transmit the Bill on Human Sexual Rights and Family Values for President Akufo-Addo’s assent.
According to the letter addressed to Parliament on Monday, March 18, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, the request follows two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction currently before the Supreme Court.
This statement has received a lot of criticism from different stakeholders.
We shall not cease and desist
The Speaker of Parliament speaking to the letter said it "undermines the spirit of cooperative governance and mutual respect for the arms of government."
He said the “ongoing scenario poses a grave threat to our legislative authority and, by extension, the democratic principles we strive to uphold. The implications of such executive actions extend far beyond the immediate legislative items at hand. They erode the foundational checks and balances that our forebearers painstakingly established to ensure a vibrant and functioning democracy...
"The Parliament of Ghana will comply with the existing legal framework and reject the attempts by the Executive Secretary of the President, through his contemptuous letter, to instruct the Clerk to Parliament, an Officer of Parliament whose position is recognizably under the Constitution. We shall not cease and desist! he added
Minority Presser
The Minority in Parliament has described the presidency’s directive to refrain from transmitting the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values (Anti-LGBTQ+) Bill for assent as a breach of the 1992 constitution.
Backing the decision of the Speaker at a press conference, the Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said “Ladies and gentlemen, I wish to conclude by saying that, the Right Honourable Speaker has made an important call. A call for Parliament to unite against the autocratic tendencies of our President and this government.
“We, in the NDC minority, are ready to protect the sanctity of the constitution of the Republic of Ghana. And we stand with the Speaker of Parliament in this. Let the President of Ghana and his government be aware that where this country is going is strange under his watch and the NDC Minority will not countenance it,” he said.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
THE NDC PARTY IS A THREAT TO THE DEMOCRACY OF GHANA. MEMBERS OF THE NDC PARTY IN PARLIAMENT DO NOT READ THE CONSTITUTION OF GHANA AS LAW MAKERS. EVEN LICENSED LAWYERS OF NDC ARE SAME. VERY SAD FOR GHANA. THERE IS NO INJUCTION FROM ANY COURT OF GHANA OR AFRICA PREVENTING PARLIAMENT OF GHANA TO PROCEED WITH ITS SITTINGS AND DOING ANY BUSINESS. A. BAGBIN IS POWER DRUNK AND NDC PARTY IS FOLLOWING HIM TO ACHEIVE HIS GOALS AGAINST THE INTEREST OF GHANA. THE NDC IS VERY UNPATRIOTIC TO THE NATION GHANA.
@Joeeeeee, you have observed rightly, any story that attracts a traction and comments putting government to order, will have peacefm removed it from the headlines and hidden somewhere, it's up to them to continue along those lines. And yes, you wonder why the president probably has his kind surrounding him? It's because in the abstract world, unlike poles attract, but in the real world, like poles attract. Our country needs to be salvaged immediately from the hands of neocolonialists and corrupt mafia system
Peace FM has quickly removed Akuffo-Addo's story that sparked this whole controversy from its front page. Peace FM, are you in bed with him? And this Nana, is it that he does not listen to advice? So if he is not wise himself, can't he also surround himself with wise men? Every bill brought by the government will now be taken to court and the proceedings in parliament will be halted. Where is this going now?
The military and police have my support if tomorrow they decide to delete/remove this thing called akuffo addo. This cancer needs to be cauterized. Ohh while the military and police are there, kindly add that piece of "shiiiiiiiirt", ken to the list. Enough of this impunity and disregard for the constitution.
Sorry Albert, Nana and his elitist cronies have changed NPP into a totally liberal far west party, pleasing Joe biden, Kamara Harris, the IMF, world bank etc and ignoring the concerns of Ghanaians, his "subjects" that fooIishly voted for him to rule over them.
Bawumia should save himself from this political disaster by coming out to support the bill. Akuffu Addo does not care anymore I think. I feel for Bawumia. I am very sad today. A conservative inclined party.
@worriedly NPP man, we are in the same shoes, I was devastated when Akufo Addo lost 2012 elections. But now I regret that I ever involved my emotions into his election. He has no idea what he has done to himself and of course the nation. Once he leaves office and send the party into opposition, he will become aware of himself and how he terribly "ruled" this nation. I dare to say that he won't have the same goodwill and respect Ghanians have provided Pres Kuffour even our of government. Every thing the NPP has done in his government has been horrendous, even how they elected flag bearer and most recently, a new majority leader. Just so despicable, don't even mention the corruption and mismanagement of the economy.
How can the president do this to the nation? I mean to the people of Ghana. As a strong supporter of the Npp I expect the party to call a press conference and condemn the president else they should forget about not only the 2024 election but prepare to be in the opposition for a long time to come.What’s Bawumia’s stance. Bawumia should come out now. President Akuffu Addo has singled handily destroyed such a grand great old party, no wonder President Kufuor was against his candidacy. The mighty party has fallen. The people of Ghana, more especially the Npp will never forgive this president.
@stephen, your deceptive NPP is worse than just a curse on the nation. See what the arrogance and unprecedented incompetence from the rank and file of this government has plunged the country into. Yet, because of the same arrogant spirit, you have the nerves to label opposition party. What's worse than supporting lgbtq stuff on top of the al round mess Nana Addo /Bawumia led government has brought to us? Just empty barrels making the loudest noise at the point of their lingering biggest defeat in our history. Now you have left us with no choice than to bring back NDC, Alan will even outperform you guys.
NDC is truly a curse on the country. This Minority leader is behaving as if he wont go to jail. The mess he created about the Ambulance will lnd him in jail. As this Parliament it is the worst in the history of this country. Its full of amateur, partisan and weak minds especially on the minority side. .