The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Bagbin has expressed concern over the stance of the Presidency following Parliament’s successful unanimous passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values (Anti-LGBTQ+) Bill.

According to him, the Presidency's refusal to accept the transmission of the bill not only deviates from established democratic practices but also "undermines the spirit of cooperative governance and mutual respect for the arms of government."

Addressing his concern in a statement on Wednesday, March 20, Mr Bagbin stated that the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill is a principle that forms the cornerstone of Ghana’s political system.

He emphasised that the Presidency’s refusal to accept the transmission of the bill is an action that, if allowed to persist without intervention, poses a risk of establishing dangerous precedents that could undermine the integrity and functionality of Ghana’s democratic institutions.

“To situate this statement in the appropriate context, it is crucial to acknowledge a disturbing pattern emerging from the Executive branch, which points to a concerning disregard for the foundational principles enshrined in the Constitution, 1992.

"This pattern has once again been made evident in the President's recent refusal to accept the transmission of the Human Sexual Values Bill. The recent move is not isolated. It forms part of a series of actions that undermine the legislative process,” part of the statement read.

Read also: Don’t transmit the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to Akufo-Addo – Presidency to Parliament

The Speaker cited a similar situation during the passage of some three critical bills, which were duly passed as a Private Members’ Bill, but the President refused to assent to them.

He stressed that, the failure on the part of the President to assent to these bills on grounds of alleged unconstitutionality, paradoxically stands in violation of the very constitution he invoked.

“Despite the gravity of this matter, it is disheartening to note that there has been no progress in rectifying the situation concerning those significant pieces of legislation. They remain in a state of limbo, unacted upon following the President's communication, which lacked substantial legal justification.”

On the back of this, Mr Bagbin stated that the current situation, where the Presidency declines to accept the transmission of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill poses a serious threat to Ghana’s legislative authority and, consequently, to the democratic principles that the nation endeavors to uphold.

According to him, the implications of such executive actions extend far beyond the immediate legislative items at hand, adding that they erode the foundational checks and balances that the nation's forebearers painstakingly established to ensure a vibrant and functioning democracy.

“When important legislative work, the product of rigorous debate and consensus-building within this House, is disregarded without just cause, it not only disrespects the legislative branch but also disenfranchises the citizens we are sworn to serve.

“This blatant disregard for legislative processes and constitutional mandates risks setting a perilous precedent that could weaken the very fabric of our governance structure,” the Speaker said.