Private Legal Practitioner, Justice Abdulai, has said President Akufo-Addo lacks the moral grounds to refuse to sign the Witchcraft Bill into law on the basis that it will burden the State financially.

In 2023, President Akufo-Addo declined to sign the Criminal Offences Bill of 2022, the Witchcraft Bill, and the Armed Forces Bill of 2023. The President attributed his refusal to assent to the bills on the basis that there would be financial implications for the country.

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

In particular, President Akufo-Addo pointed to the financial burdens associated with replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment in the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, sponsored by Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu.

But speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story, Mr Abdulai said the President's argument does not hold water.

He argued that in the past eight years, President Akufo-Addo’s record does not depict someone who has worked hard to continuously protect the public purse; hence, for him to argue on those grounds is wrong.

“If you stress the argument to that point, this president has woefully not been able to do that. In fact, he has rather for want of a better word, he has literally broken the purse itself and we can't even find the money. So, let's not even go into that one.

“That argument, I don’t think it is sustainable in any way. If you are dealing with this particular president, he is the worst when it comes to that,” he said.

His comments come after the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) urged President Akufo-Addo to take necessary steps to resolve any legal issues he has with the Anti-Witchcraft Bill and sign it into law.

This call to action is detailed in CHRAJ’s advisory opinion on the Criminal Offences Bill, 2023 [Anti-Witchcraft Bill], signed by the Commissioner, Dr Joseph Whittal.

• Read also: Resolve legal issues and sign the Anti-Witchcraft Bill – CHRAJ urges Akufo-Addo

“In light of the foregoing, the Commission respectfully urges His Excellency the President of the Republic to take urgent steps, including any legislative measures, that will resolve any constitutional concerns raised by H.E. the President in order to assent to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill, 2023 (Anti-Witchcraft Bill). This will further enhance the protection of this vulnerable group and consolidate Ghana's human rights record,” stated Dr. Whittal.