The Office of the President has labelled Parliament’s efforts to forward the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024, for presidential assent as ‘improper,’ citing ongoing legal proceedings.
The Office urged Parliament to ‘cease and desist from transmitting the Bill to the President until all matters related to the Bill before the Supreme Court is resolved.
A statement released by the Secretary to the President stressed the inappropriateness of any actions concerning the Bill when the Supreme Court deliberates on two significant applications for interlocutory injunctions to halt its progression.
The contentious bill, which has sparked widespread debate within Ghanaian society and beyond, found itself at the centre of legal scrutiny following applications filed by Dr. Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky against the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General.
These applications, lodged on March 7, 2024, seek to temporarily prevent the transmission of the bill to the President and restrain him from signalling his approval or rejection until the Supreme Court makes a final decision on the matter.
Addressing the gravity of the situation, the President’s Office revealed that the attempts to present the bill occurred while the President and senior officials were at a Cabinet Retreat in Peduase on March 14.
“The Attorney-General has, by letter dated 18th March 2024, informed the President that he has been duly served with both applications and has advised the President not to take any step about the Bill until the matters raised by the suits are determined by the Supreme Court.”
“It is the understanding of this Office that both applications have also been duly served on Parliament.”
“Therefore, it would be improper for you to transmit the Bill to the President and equally improper for this Office to receive the Bill until the Supreme Court determines the matters raised in the suits,” the statement said.
According to the Office, the Attorney-General has subsequently advised the President, following formal notification of the pending applications, to abstain from any actions related to the bill, in line with the legal advice received on March 18, 2024.