Speaker Bagbin directs Clerk of Parliament to re-transmit anti-LGBT Bill to President for assent

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has directed the Clerk to Parliament to re-submit the anti LGBT Bill to the President for assent.

The Clerk had earlier attempted to transmit the Bill to the President for assent but the Presidency rejected it citing a pending case at the Supreme Court on the legality of the Bill

The Presidency explained that until the final determination of the pending case at the Supreme Court, it was not going to receive the Bill.

Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday afternoon [Nov 6] on recent developments in Parliament, Mr Bagbin urged the Supreme Court to expedite the handling of the pending case and urged the court to use same speed on the case same as the way it was handling the application for interpretation of Article 97 on when a seat can be declared vacant in Parliament.

No constitutional crisis

Mr Bagbin dismissed suggestions on a potential constitutional crisis amid the ongoing standoff in Parliament and assured the legislative body remains fully operational.

He said the impasse, sparked by a Supreme Court directive against his declaration of four parliamentary seats vacant, is under control and does not threaten the country’s constitutional stability.

“There’s no constitutional crisis in this country. I repeat, there’s no constitutional crisis in this country..., Stop pressing the panic buttons and fear-mongering. Let the system work,” he said. ” 

He, however, raised concerns about what he described as a concerning “collusion” between the Executive and the Judiciary aimed at curbing Parliament’s powers.

He argued that Parliament has the constitutional right to vacate seats held by MPs who have shifted party allegiance or declared intentions to run as independents in the upcoming elections.

“This is about defending the independence of Parliament,” Bagbin stated. “When MPs break from their parties, they compromise their allegiance. Parliament, in upholding its authority, must have the right to act accordingly.”

Mr Bagbin warned that any attempts to curb Parliament’s authority could set a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining Ghana’s democratic foundations.