Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency, has expressed frustration over the delay in the passage of the controversial Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill. Speaking on GHOne TV‘s “State of Affairs” with Lantam Papanko, George pointed fingers at Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, accusing her of stalling the process by failing to deliver a judgment on an injunction petition filed in relation to the bill.
George emphasized that all necessary legal documents and proceedings related to the injunction have been completed, leaving only a judgment to be delivered. He claimed that the Chief Justice’s inaction is the main reason the bill has not been forwarded to the President for assent, stating, “The reason why the bill hasn’t gone to the president is not because of processes that have not been filed. It’s simply because the Chief Justice has failed to give judgment in the injunction petition.”
He criticized the delay, questioning why the Chief Justice would allow the matter to drag on when Parliament is eager to proceed. According to George, Article 106, clauses 6 and 7 of the 1992 Constitution empower Parliament to transmit the bill once all legal hurdles have been cleared.
The MP went on to criticize the Chief Justice’s leadership, accusing her of negligence by deferring responsibility to the Attorney General. He expressed disbelief that the Chief Justice is “sitting and waiting for the Attorney General to file documents at his own leisure and pleasure,” calling the situation “unbecoming of someone occupying that high office.”
George also took aim at the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, accusing him of having a “penchant for delay” and citing his track record in other cases, including the Gyakpa case. He revealed that Parliament had written to the Attorney General in October 2022 for a memorandum on the Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, but Dame only responded after a full year. George called the delay “abysmal” and further questioned the Chief Justice’s reliance on Dame’s office.
In his concluding remarks, George expressed deep concerns about the judicial process, stating that the delays have eroded public trust in the Chief Justice’s ability to effectively perform her duties. He noted that the Attorney General had exceeded the 14-day deadline to file necessary documents and questioned whether the Chief Justice would allow such delays to continue unchecked.
This development adds another layer of controversy to the already highly debated Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill, with critics and supporters alike awaiting the next steps in the legislative process.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah