The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, remains dissatisfied with President Akufo-Addo’s decision not to give his assent to three bills passed by Parliament, expressing his disagreement with the refusal to sign the Abolition of Death Penalty/Witchcraft bills into law.

Bagbin asserts that the President’s choice not to sign the three private member’s bills indicates a misunderstanding of constitutional processes in the country. He emphasizes that in the absence of a judicial determination from the Supreme Court, the President’s unilateral assessment of unconstitutionality lacks legal validity, marking a departure from established legal procedures governing the constitutional democracy.

In a letter to Parliament, President Akufo-Addo cited the financial implications on the consolidated fund and the bills’ contravention of the constitution as reasons for his refusal to sign the Criminal Offences Amendment Bills 2023 Numbers 1 and 2 and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023. These bills were passed by the House in July 2023 and presented to the President in August and November for his assent.

Bagbin, addressing the issue on the parliamentary floor, added that “the steps taken by the president in this matter reflect a misunderstanding of the constitutional process and undermine the principles that uphold our democratic governance.” He emphasized that the constitutional responsibility to determine whether a bill falls under Article 108 or not rests with the person presiding over the proceedings.