Anti-gay bill: ignore Akufo-Addo’s letter –Haruna Iddrisu

Tamale South’s Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu, has accused the Office of the President of obstructing Parliament’s work, urging the Clerk of Parliament to immediately disregard the letter because the Akufo-Addo’s Executive Secretary has no power to injunct the lawmaking house from carrying out its duties. This comes after an official letter was sent to Parliament, urging them not to send the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to President Akufo-Addo for approval.

During his address to the House, Mr. Iddrisu criticized the letter, claiming it shows President Akufo-Addo’s desire for dominance over other state organs, particularly the legislature. He argued that this action threatens Ghana’s democracy and undermines Parliament’s authority as the legislative body.

Mr. Iddrisu also questioned the validity of the letter, as it was not directly signed by the President but by his secretary. He stressed that such communication should come directly from the President himself, following Parliament’s standing orders.

Despite the letter’s claims about pending legal matters, Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that Parliament has the authority to carry out its duties and should not be hindered by external influences. He maintained that seeking an injunction does not equate to an actual injunction, and Parliament should continue its legislative process as mandated by the Constitution.