The Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, often known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, has been officially sought by the Office of the President to be withheld from President Akufo-Addo for his approval by Parliament.
In response to two outstanding motions for an order of interlocutory injunction presently pending before the Supreme Court, the request was made in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, and addressed to Parliament on Monday, March 18.
The letter made clear that until the issues before the court are resolved, Parliament should not move further with sending the Bill to President Akufo-Addo for any action.
It was also revealed that the Attorney-General had recommended the President not to move forward with the Bill until the Supreme Court had addressed the issues brought up by the ongoing lawsuits.
This Office understands that both applications have been properly served to Parliament. Consequently, until the Supreme Court rules on the issues addressed in the lawsuits, it would be improper for you to send the Bill to the President and equally improper for this Office to accept the Bill.
It further stated, “Under the current circumstances, you are respectfully requested to refrain from forwarding the Bill to the President until the matters before the Supreme Court are resolved.”
Additionally, the letter revealed that on Thursday, March 14, Parliament attempted to transmit the Bill to the President while he and some cabinet members were attending 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.”
