Judiciary and Executive Have Sinned Against 1992 Constitution- Bagbin

The Speaker of the eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic, Rt Hon Alban Bagbin has faulted the Judiciary and the Executive arms of government for sinning against the 1992 Constitution.

He believes they must “confess and repent of the sin”.

“Both Executive and Judiciary have sinned against the constitution and must confess and repent of the sin,” he said at a press conference on November 6, 2024.

This statement is premised on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s refusal to assent to the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill after its passage by parliament.

He explained, “There is nowhere in the constitution the President can decide to refuse to receive a bill…Our president cannot veto a bill passed by Parliament. It’s clear he will receive and communicate when he has concerns within seven days. He has 14 days to put it through to Parliament then parliament convenes over it. So if the Prez refuses to receive the bill, what has he done?”

He lectured that the President had the option to also consult the Council of State in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution but sidelined all these to take his own path.

In the case of the Judiciary, he faulted it for admitting a case against a bill.

“It is just a bill. What is the judiciary going to do?… It’s only when it’s passed and assented to, that the judiciary can come in and interpret.”

He believes this has set a bad precedent in the country’s history.

“It should have been jettisoned. What this means, any bill can be injuncted by court…We are doing this for Ghana and generations yet unborn.”

Meanwhile, he announced the clerk of Parliament has been directed to resubmit the bill to the President.

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini