Bagbin erred in allowing anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to be laid - Akoto Ampaw

Private legal practitioner, Akoto Ampaw has suggested that the Speaker of Parliament, violated Articles 108 and 296 of the 1992 Constitution by allowing the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values 2021 bill to be laid before the House through Private Members' Bill.

The lawyer who appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on behalf of the Group of Concerned Ghanaian Citizens against the passing of the bill, today, Thursday, November 11, 2021, quoted article 108 of the 1992 Constitution, to make his case.

“Parliament shall not proceed on a bill which will impose costs or charges on the Consolidated Fund unless it is presented by, or on behalf of the President.”

He argued, “The speaker is not above the Constitution, he is subject to the mandatory provisions of the Constitution and it is our view that the Speaker violated article 108 of the Constitution when he allowed such a bill that clearly imposes a charge on the consolidated funds and public funds to be laid before Parliament.”

According to him, “Article 108 states that if in the opinion of the person presiding, the bill does not impose a charge on the consolidated fund or other public fund. However, as we all know, any discretionary power that is granted any person exercising a public function like the Speaker of Parliament under Article 296 of the Constitution, must be exercised in a reasonable, not arbitrary manner and without prejudice.”

And where it is clear that the Speaker of Parliament, as in this case, has exercised his discretion unreasonably by concluding that the bill does not impose a charge on the public fund when it is obvious and palpable that the bill imposes charge on the public fund, that decision of the Speaker is by Article 296 of the Constitution unconstitutional,” he added.

Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs began their public hearing on Thursday.

They are expected to meet ten individuals, groups or organizations that have presented memos.

They are to use 15 weeks for the public hearing.