Akufo-Addo and Judiciary have sinned against the Constitution – Bagbin

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has criticized both President Akufo-Addo and the judiciary, accusing them of undermining the Constitution by stalling the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ Bill.

The Bill which was passed by Parliament and now awaits presidential assent.

According to Mr Bagbin, the judiciary’s acceptance and processing of cases related to the bill, coupled with the president’s alleged refusal to accept it, sets a concerning precedent in Ghana’s democratic journey.

At a press conference on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, Speaker Bagbin expressed disappointment over the increasing tendency of stakeholders, including members of Parliament, to turn to the Supreme Court to resolve legislative issues.

He argued that such actions compromise the integrity of the House.

“Most worrying is that these proceedings are initiated by some members of Parliament, even leaders of Parliament, who ought to know better,” Bagbin said, emphasizing that MPs should show loyalty to Parliament rather than the Supreme Court.

“Parliamentarians who are to be loyal to Parliament rather than to the Supreme Court run to the Supreme Court at the slightest opportunity to use it to undermine Parliament,” he said, adding that this tendency might be why Parliament “is not respected and treated with disdain.”

Mr Bagbin specifically took issue with the judiciary’s role in processing suits on the LGBTQ Bill, which he claimed the President also refused to receive.

“The President’s refusal to even receive the LGBTQ+ Bill duly processed and passed by Parliament without any legal basis, and the judiciary’s support by processing a suit on this subject matter, are dangerous precedents,” Mr Bagbin stated.

According to him, both the president and the judiciary “have sinned against the Constitution” and should seek to “confess and repent” for what he considers a disregard of Ghana’s democratic processes.

Source: