Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has proposed that Parliament take legal action against President Akufo-Addo for his refusal to sign the contentious Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 into law.

President Akufo-Addo recently declined to give his assent to both the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 and the Wildlife Resources Management Bill 2023.

The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, criticized the President on November 27, 2023, for not communicating his stance on the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, which aims to criminalize attacks on suspected witches.

In response, the Presidency asserted that it did not receive the bills passed by Parliament until November 27, 2023, and dismissed any claims that it had decided against assenting to the Bills. But in a letter to Parliament on Monday, December 4, President Akufo-Addo communicated to the House that he was unable to assent to the bills until their associated constitutional matters were resolved.

Despite this explanation, Samuel Nartey George has suggested pursuing legal action against the President for his refusal to sign the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023 into law.

During an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, Sam George strongly asserted that the President is overstepping the authority of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin. The MP emphasized that the President possesses 'absolutely no powers' to obstruct the passage of the bill.

Expressing dissatisfaction, the MP criticized the President for disregarding the provisions of the 1992 constitution. He strongly recommended taking legal action against the President if he does not reverse his decision to withhold assent to the bill.

“Parliament must go to the Supreme Court to seek interpretations of Article 108. The president is not the ultimate in this country when it comes to the law. The speaker has served notice that the president’s actions are unconstitutional and are a breach of the Constitution.”

He added, “I hold the view that the actions of the President are unconstitutional and even constitute grounds for impeachment. Because the President is flouting the Constitution in such a blatant manner. How can a witchcraft bill be interpreted by the President to be financial matters? And for those reasons, the President arrogates to himself powers that he doesn’t have. He’s usurping the constitutional powers of the Speaker. We can’t sit down and allow that. I believe that if the President does not rescind his decisions, Parliament must take him to court. We should take him to the Supreme Court for the court to rule. The President has absolutely no powers under Article 108.”