President’s action dangerous precedent for democracy — Alban Bagbin

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stated that the President’s refusal to accept the transmission of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021 from Parliament to the Jubilee House is not only a deviation from established democratic practices but also undermines the spirit of cooperative governance and mutual respect for the arms of government.

“This is a principle that forms the cornerstone of our political system. Such actions, if left unchecked, risk setting dangerous precedents that threaten the integrity and functionality of our democratic institutions,” the Speaker said.

Disturbing patterns

In a formal statement in reaction to the President’s refusal to accept the anti-gay bill prior to adjourning the House sine die last Wednesday, Mr Bagbin acknowledged what he described as a disturbing pattern emerging from the Executive branch which showed a disregard for the foundational principles enshrined in the Constitution.

“The recent move is not isolated. It forms part of a series of actions that undermine the legislative process,” he said.

The Speaker said the President’s refusal to accept the transmission of the bill was, by all accounts, not supported by the constitutional and statutory provisions that guided Ghana’s legislative process.

He told the House that the Constitution clearly delineated the steps to be followed once a bill had been passed by Parliament, mandating the transmission of the bill to the President for assent or rejection.

He said it was incumbent on the President to accept the bill and take the necessary action within the prescribed constitutional limits, whether that action was assent, refusal or referral to the Council of State for advice.

“It is instructive to note that the Executive has in the past proceeded with its actions although there has been pending before the court, injunction application against the state,” he said.

He posited that the Parliament of Ghana operated as a crucial part of the country’s democracy, embodying the will and voice of the people.