Anti-gay bill: It’s a gross display of infantile politics to order Parliament around – Prof. Gyampo blasts presidency

Prof. Ransford Gyampo

Senior Political Science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has shared his view on the letter from the Presidency cautioning Parliament against transmitting the anti-LGBTQ+ bill to President Akufo-Addo.

In a letter addressed to the Clerk of Parliament, the Presidency said it would be improper for Parliament to transmit the anti-gay bill to the President for him to approve.

It explained that this is because of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction to restrain Parliament from transmitting the Bill to the President and, also, to restrain the President from signifying his assent to the Bill, pending the final determination of the matter.

“Therefore, it would be improper for you to transmit the Bill to the President and equally improper for this Office to receive the Bill until the Supreme Court determines the matters raised in the suits,” parts of the letter from the President signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President said.

According to Prof. Ransford Gyampo, the Presidency doesn’t have the power to order a Parliament that truly represents Ghanaians like this.

In a post on Facebook, the Political Science lecturer urged Parliament to assert its sovereign power.

He insists that anyone who attempts to suffocate the will of Ghanaians must face consequences.

“It is a gross display of infantile politics, a deliberate show of conscious ignorance, and a blatant disregard of the sovereign will of the good people of Ghana, to shift the goalpost in this matter, just to attempt to sell Ghana’s humanity and core values for 3.8 billion dollars.

“The view and voice of the Ghanaian people about this matter is decidedly clear and any single individual or regime that attempts to stampede and suffocate the expressed General Will of the PEOPLE, must face consequences from those who wield the fiduciary power of the land,” Prof. Ransford Gyampo said.