The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, announced that Parliament will seek legal interpretation after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo refused to sign certain bills passed by the House. Last year, the president declined to sign the Criminal Offences Bill of 2022, the Witchcraft Bill, and the Armed Forces Bill of 2023, citing financial implications as the reason for his refusal.
Speaker Bagbin expressed disagreement with the president’s decision and stated that Parliament will take the matter to court.
He emphasized that it is not within the president’s authority to determine the constitutionality of the bills, as that falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Bagbin insisted that any allegations of misuse should be contested by the Supreme Court and not unilaterally decided by the president. In response, President Akufo-Addo cited financial burdens associated with the bills and singled out the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill sponsored by Francis-Xavier Sosu.
Bagbin stressed that determining the bills’ constitutionality is the sole responsibility of the Supreme Court, not the president.
He also noted that if concerns exist about Parliament exceeding its constitutional authority, the appropriate action would be to bring the matter before the Supreme Court instead of making an executive declaration of unconstitutionality.
Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
