An Accra High Court has adjourned the case seeking to compel President Akufo-Addo to receive the Anti-LGBTQ bill from Parliament to Monday, April 29.
The adjournment follows the Attorney General’s filing of an affidavit in opposition.
The affidavit was filed on Wednesday, April 17, a day before the court heard legal arguments. The court had earlier granted an abridgement of time for an expedited hearing of the case filed by National Democratic Congress MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
Mr Dafeamekpor seeks several declarations regarding the President’s refusal to receive the bill from Parliament.
The MP’s action came after a letter from the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, urged Parliament to refrain from sending the bill to President Akufo-Addo for his assent.
This letter cited pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction before the Supreme Court against the bill.
According to the letter, it would be inappropriate for Parliament to proceed with transmitting the bill to President Akufo-Addo until the legal issues are resolved.
Additionally, the Attorney-General has advised the President against taking any action on the bill until the Supreme Court addresses the pending legal suits.
In his suit, Dafeamekpor seeks a declaration that the President cannot prevent Parliament from transmitting a bill that has been passed to him.
He also seeks a declaration that the President can only assent to or refuse to assent to a bill within seven days unless the bill has been referred to the Council of State, as outlined in Article 106(1) and (7) of the Constitution.
The Attorney-General has requested an adjournment for the Office to argue the case thoroughly.