Refrain from presenting an anti-LGBTQ bill to us amid court applications – Presidency tells Parliament

The Office of the President has told Parliament to hold off on presenting President Nana Akufo-Addo with the anti-gay bill for his approval.

In a statement signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, the President’s directive stems from the acknowledgment of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction before the Supreme Court.

The applications, among other demands, seek to prevent Parliament from sending the bill to the President and to restrain the President from signifying his assent to the bill, pending the final determination of the matter, the statement revealed.

The Presidency disclosed that the Attorney-General had informed the President via a letter dated March 18, 2024, that he had been duly served with both applications.

“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.

“In the circumstances, you are kindly requested to cease and desist from transmitting the bill to the President until the matters before the Supreme Court are resolved,” it added.

At a meeting with some members of the diplomatic corps, President Akufo-Addo stated that the country would continue to uphold the rule on the affirmation or otherwise of the Proper Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, adding that he has been briefed that an action has been taken against Parliament’s passage of the bill in the Supreme Court.

He urged all to await the verdict of the apex court to determine the next line of action.

The president has been under pressure from the majority of Ghanaians and other religious groups to assent to the anti-LGBTQ bill, despite opposition from some civil society groups.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Finance, in a statement, asked the President to act cautiously on the approval of the bill, warning against retaliations from development partners.