Nana Addo refuses to assent ‘Witchcraft,’ Armed Forces Bills citing constitutional concerns

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has opted not to give his approval to three pivotal bills—namely, the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, the Wildlife Resources Management Bill 2023, and the Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023—which are currently awaiting his assent, as reported by citinewsroom.com.

On November 27, 2023, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin criticized the president for failing to communicate his stance on the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, aimed at criminalizing attacks on individuals accused of witchcraft.

In response, the presidency, in a communication, denied having received the bill, along with two others, until November 27, 2023. The Presidency also rejected suggestions that they had made a decision against assenting to the bills.

However, in a letter addressed to Parliament on Monday, December 4, President Akufo-Addo informed the House of his decision to withhold assent to the three bills until constitutional issues associated with them are resolved.

Speaker Alban Bagbin read the president’s letter to members of the House, stating, “In the communication from His Excellency dated 27th November 2023, he signifies pursuant to Article 106, clause 7 that he is unable to assent to the Criminal Offences Number 2 Bill 2023 because upon review of the bill, he noted some constitutional matters relating to its passage.”

The Speaker further conveyed that President Akufo-Addo is yet to specify the exact constitutional matters that require resolution before he can assent to the three bills.

-The Post Ghana