Supreme Court must interpret Article 108 – Sam George
Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, wants Parliament to head to the Supreme Court for an interpretation of Article 108 of the Constitution.
Sam George’s comment follows President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to approve some bills into law because they breach certain sections of Article 108.
On the back of this, the MP who is also the lead sponsor of the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill, which could face a similar challenge, insists that the matter must be taken to court.
He believes the Supreme Court must interpret the said Article so that Parliament can better understand its limits.
“The resolution to this matter is for all of us to go to the Supreme Court. Parliament must go to the Supreme Court to seek interpretation of Article 108 and let the judges distinguish it for us.
“Is it the position of the law, or is it the intention of the framers of the 1992 constitution that Parliament can not on its own pass legislation? Then let’s know that parliament is a rubber stamp Parliament and can not pass legislation,” he said.
The legislator clarified that taking the matter to the Apex court was solely for interpretation and not a lawsuit against the President.
Also, key sponsor of the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, Francis Xavier Sosu has expressed his disappointment in the president’s refusal to assent to the bill.
- Read also: The whole thing doesn’t make sense to me – Sosu on Akufo-Addo’s refusal to approve Witchcraft bill
According to him, the president chose to politicise the bill rather than consider the interests of vulnerable women.
“I think that he [President] is being misled or better still he is choosing politics over the protection of human rights. He is choosing politics over the protection of women’s rights. He is choosing politics over protecting vulnerable women in various witch camps probably dying on a daily basis,” he said.
On December 4, President Akufo-Addo said he was unable to sign some crucial bills passed by Parliament into law due to certain constitutional concerns.
These include the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, and the Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023.
In July, Parliament passed the Armed Forces Bill which seeks to amend sections of Act 29 and the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) to replace the Death Penalty with life imprisonment.
The Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 also seeks to prohibit the act of declaring, accusing, naming, or labeling an individual as a witch, among other related matters.
Source: Ghana News
