The Minority members in Parliament have expressed their chagrin over the failure of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assent to the Witchcraft Bill into law months ago.
The Caucus contends that this delay, along with the non-assent to the Criminal and other Offences Amendment Act, is a violation of Ghana’s 1992 Republican Constitution.
Minority Leader Cassiel Ato Bah Forson emphasized the constitutional breach, urging Parliament to take action against the president if he continues to withhold assent.
He stated, “So clearly Mr. Speaker there is a constitutional breach, and this house must take steps to deal with the constitutional breach.”
The Criminal and other Offences Act amendment, aimed at criminalizing accusations of witchcraft and the practices of witch-finders, remains unsigned despite being passed in July.
Raising the concerns on Monday, November 27, the Minority Leader stressed the importance of addressing this issue promptly, highlighting the constitutional guidelines for handling a president’s failure to assent to bills.
Tamale South Member of Parliament and former Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu insisted that the president must adhere to Article 106 of the Constitution, which mandates him to communicate in writing any provisions of the bill he finds problematic.
Failure to act, according to him, could set a dangerous precedent for future legislative processes.
However, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and leader of Government Business disclosed the president’s reservations about certain aspects of the bill.
He said, “The President fined some portions of the bill which are bad, and when assented to, it will give Parliament a bad image.”
He assured that a meeting between the president and the Speaker is imminent to address these concerns and align both sides.
The delay in assenting to these crucial bills raises concerns about the potential ramifications and the need for constitutional adherence in the legislative process.