Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Member of Parliament for South Dayi, is calling for the president's Executive Secretary to be charged with contempt of Parliament.

Dafeamekpor's dissatisfaction with Nana Bediatuo Asante arises from the latter's communication to the Clerk of Parliament regarding issues concerning the transmission of the anti-LGBT+ Bill to the president for approval.

In his letter, Bediatuo cited two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction against the Bill before the Supreme Court as grounds for the president's inability to assent to it.

In a statement released on Monday, March 18, 2024, the Secretary to the President revealed that the Attorney-General had informed President Akufo-Addo, through a letter dated March 18, 2024, about the pending legal actions and advised him to refrain from taking any action on the Bill.

However, according to the National Democratic Congress MP, the tone of the letter was inappropriate.

"The tone of this letter is not only contumacious of Parliament of Ghana & its powers, but it is also a presumptuous interference in the performance of its functions. Nana Bediatuo ought to be cited for Contempt of Parliament," he said in an X post in which he shared the said letter.

Stop transmitting Anti-LGBT+ Bill to Akufo-Addo – Bediatuo to Parliament

“It has come to the attention of this Office that while the President and other senior officials of the Presidency were at Peduase for a Cabinet Retreat on Thursday, 14th March 2024, you attempted to submit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024 (the "Bill") to Jubilee House for the President to signify his assent or otherwise to the Bill.

“This Office is aware of two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction, both filed on 7th March 2024 in the Supreme Court in Dr. Amanda Odoi v. The Speaker of Parliament and The Attorney-General (J1/13/2023) and Richard Sky v. The Parliament of Ghana and The Attorney-General (31/9/2024) respectively, to restrain you and 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,” part of the statement said.

It stressed the importance of refraining from any actions that might bias the outcome of the legal proceedings or diminish the court's authority.

“The Attorney-General has, by letter dated 18th March 2024, informed the President that he has been duly served with both applications and has advised the President not to take any step in relation to the Bill until the matters raised by the suits are determined by the Supreme Court.

“It is the understanding of this Office that both applications have also been duly served on Parliament. 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.

“Indeed, it is settled law that, during the pendency of an interlocutory injunction application, the status quo ante ought to be preserved, and no action should be taken that would result in prejudicing the injunctive relief sought and undermining the authority of the court,” the statement added.

The anti-LGBT+ Bill, approved by Parliament, prohibits LGBT activities and makes their promotion, advocacy, and funding illegal.

Individuals engaged in these activities could face imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, while promoters and sponsors could be sentenced to three to five years in jail.

President Akufo-Addo has postponed his decision on signing the Bill into law, citing a constitutional challenge in the Supreme Court.

Regardless of his decision, Members of Parliament have the authority, with a two-thirds majority, to override the president's decision and enforce the provisions of the Bill.