We didn’t go to court to force President to sign Anti-LGBTQ+ bill – Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo

Private legal practitioner, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, has clarified that the lawsuit initiated by South Dayi MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, on the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is not aimed at coercing President Akufo-Addo into assenting to the bill.

He stated that “we didn’t go to court to force the president to sign the bill, you can’t do that.

We were in court to say that everything that parliament has to do, has been done, two the Speaker of Parliament is under duty pursuant to this section (Article 106) to carry the bill from parliament to the Presidency and the president has a duty to either sign the bill or not sign and refer it to the necessary bodies that are in the constitution.”

He said that a court order ensures that the Speaker and the President are compelled to do their duty as subjects to the Constitution.

He told the host Samson Lardy Anyenini that because the Speaker and President Akufo-Addo on the advice of the Attorney General interpreted the laws differently “the compulsive nature of the order was what was going to change the dynamics now.”

Dafeamekpor, among other things, asked for a declaration that, according to Article 106(1) and (7) of the Constitution, a 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.

The letter emphasised that it would be improper for Parliament to proceed with transmitting the Bill to President Akufo-Addo for any action until the matters before the court are addressed.