The Accra High Court in Accra has adjourned to April 29, 2024 to continue hearing of MP for South Dayi Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor’s application for mandamus to compel the Speaker of Parliament and the President to act on the anti LGBTQ Bill within 7 days.
The case was adjourned at the request of the State Attorney and the applicant’s Lawyer’s plea for time to file responses.
The Court was expected to hear the Attorney General’s response to the Applicant’s motion which was moved by Mr. Dafeamekpor’s Lawyer, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo last week.
Principal State Attorney George Tetteh Sackey at the previous hearing informed the Court that the state will respond to the application on point of law at the next sitting.
However, during today’s proceedings he told the Court that the state has filed an affidavit in response to the mandamus application.
Lawyer Nii Kpakpo Addo urged the Court to grant him time to reply to the Attorney-General’s response to their motion to address some specific issues raised.
He also presented copies of a letter from Parliament to the Office of the President asking for a specific date for the transmission of the Human Sexual and Family Values Bill for presidential assent to the Court and the state.
The State Attorney informed the Court that he was directed by his Superiors to seek a short adjournment to pursue the said letter.
Mr Dafeamekpor wants the Court to direct the Speaker of Parliament to present the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill to the President in accordance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution on the basis that Parliament has duly complied with all the Constitutional provisions.
He argues that the Bill must be transmitted to and received by the President for assent or otherwise in accordance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution. Mr Dafeamekpor further prays for an order directed at the President to receive the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill as presented by Parliament in accordance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution to either assent to it or otherwise.
The adjournment raises concerns over the applicant’s quest for an expeditious hearing but Lawyer Nii Kpakpo Addo thinks otherwise. He is hopeful that the case will be concluded in due time.
