It seems that President Akufo-Addo's decision to withhold his signature from certain critical bills, including the 'Witchcraft' bill, has stirred discontent among some Members of Parliament.

Many of these lawmakers are calling for legal action against the President, arguing that his decision is unconstitutional.

Already, Ningo-Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George, is urging Parliament to take the matter to the Supreme Court to compel President Akufo-Addo to sign those bills.

He believes that allowing this precedent to persist might set a troubling example for future presidents.

“Parliament must go to the Supreme Court to seek interpretations of Article 108. The President is not the ultimate in this country when it comes to the law. The Speaker has served notice that the President’s actions are unconstitutional and are a breach of the Constitution,” he said in an interview with Citi TV on Wednesday, December 6.

He emphasised that President Akufo-Addo should not be permitted to assume powers beyond his constitutional authority.

• Read also: Akufo-Addo’s refusal to sign bills a deliberate effort to frustrate Parliament’s work – Xavier Sosu

 “I hold the view that the actions of the President are unconstitutional and even constitute grounds for impeachment. Because the President is flouting the Constitution in such a blatant manner. How can a witchcraft bill be interpreted by the President to be financial matters? And for those reasons, the President arrogates to himself powers that he doesn’t have.”

“He’s usurping the constitutional powers of the Speaker. We can’t sit down and allow that. I believe that if the President does not rescind his decisions, Parliament must take him to court. We should take him to the Supreme Court for the court to rule. The President has absolutely no powers under Article 108,” he added.

Madina MP, Francis Xavier Sosu, has accused President Akufo-Addo of attempting to obstruct the efforts of Parliament by declining to sign three bills passed by the House.

In his view, President Akufo-Addo is selectively interpreting Article 108 of the constitution for opportunistic reasons.

In July, Parliament approved the Armed Forces Bill, which aims to amend sections of Act 29 and the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the Death Penalty with life imprisonment.

• Read also: I am unable to assent to Witchcraft, Armed Forces Bills – Akufo-Addo tells Parliament

The Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 also aims to prohibit the act of declaring, accusing, naming, or labelling an individual as a witch, among other related matters.

However, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of Parliament and read to the House on Monday, December 4, the President argued that the bills sponsored by the NDC MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, must originate from the Executive and not as Private Members Bills.