Anti-Gay Bill: Mahama Condemns Presidency’s Letter To Parliament, Describes It As Disrespectful

Flagbearer of the opposition NDC, John Dramani Mahama has condemned the letter from the Presidency directing Parliament not to transmit the Bill on Human Sexual Rights and Family Values to President Akufo-Addo for assent.
According to him, it is disrespectful for the Secretary to the President to author such a letter.

The document signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatio which is circulating on social media, highlighted two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction before the Supreme Court.
But speaking at a Town Hall meeting at Banda as part of a tour of the Oti Region, Mr. Mahama said such a directive to Parliament contradicts the dictates of the 1992 Constitution.

“We all know that our tradition is against LGBTQ. No religion in Ghana accepts it. Christianity does not accept it, Islam does not, even the traditionalists also reject it. It is a taboo in Ghana.

“Parliament recently passed a Bill to be sent to the President for his approval. But he has refused to sign because he claims the case is in court so he will wait for the pronouncement by the Supreme Court.

“But this morning I woke up to see a letter from the Secretary to the President to Parliament warning them against transmitting the letter to the Presidency. But everyone who is a lawyer will tell you that the President’s secretary has no authority to write such a letter because Parliament is obligated by the constitution to send every Bill to the President. So you cannot tell Parliament not to do its job,” the former President said.