News:
December 3, 2023
Member of Parliament for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu has stated that, President Akufo-Addo has breached Article 90/A and B of the constitution where the President has within Fourteen days (14 days) to assent to a bill passed by Parliament to become a law.
He explained that President Akufo-Addo has failed to give his assent to the witchcraft bill passed by Parliament during the Second Meeting of the House and no explanation has been received from the President as to why it has become difficult for the bill to be assented to.
Mr. Haruna Iddrisu further said, Parliament should never set a bad precedent where the President refuses to assent to a bill and be walking freely as if he has the mandate and the authority to do so.
The Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin also confirmed that, he has not received any communication from the Presidency in respect to why the witchcraft bill has not been assented to by the President.
He added that, the constitution must be respected by all including the President and it is for a good reason why Ghanaians or for that matter, the constitution mandated Parliament to make laws.
Finally, the majority leader, Mr Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu used the opportunity to explain as to why President has not been able to communicate to Parliament on the matter.
He said, when President Akufo-Addo was available to send his reservation on the bill, the Speaker of Parliament was out of Ghana and vice versa, that’s why the community on the witchcraft has not been back to Parliament.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com