The Office of the President has formally urged Parliament to abstain from forwarding the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, often known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, to President Akufo-Addo for his approval.
In a letter dated Monday, March 18, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, the request was made to Parliament, citing two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction currently before the Supreme Court.
The letter underscored the impropriety of Parliament moving forward with transmitting the Bill to President Akufo-Addo for any action until the issues before the court are resolved.
Furthermore, it was disclosed that the Attorney-General has advised the President against taking any action regarding the Bill until the issues raised by the ongoing legal suits are resolved 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,”
“In the circumstances, you are kindly requested to cease from transmitting the Bill to the President until the matters before the Supreme Court are resolved,” it added.
Furthermore, the letter disclosed that on Thursday, March 14, Parliament sought to forward the Bill to the President while he and certain cabinet members were participating in a retreat at Peduase.
“It has come to the attention of this Office that while the President and other senior officials of the Presidency were at Peduase for a Cabinet Retreat on Thursday, 14th March 2024, you attempted to submit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024 (the “Bill”‘) to Jubilee House for the President to signify his assent or otherwise to the Bill.”