By: Kobina Baidoo
The High Court in Accra has ruled against the mandamus application filed by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, which aimed to compel President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assent to the anti-LGBTQ bill passed by Parliament.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi filed the suit at the High Court in Accra, in March however, Justice Ellen Mireku, in her ruling, acknowledged the court’s jurisdiction but exercised discretion to dismiss the mandamus application.
Represented by Chief State Attorney Sylvia Adeso, lawyers for the Attorney-General argued that the High Court lacked jurisdiction to grant Dafeamekpor
She indicated that subsequent suits filed by two other private citizens, Prof. Amanda Odoi and Richard Dela Sky, had a major influence on Dafeamekpor’s application, leading to the rejection of the reliefs sought by the South Dayi MP.
Dafeamekpor had previously filed a suit at the High Court seeking various declarations and orders regarding the powers of the President under the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Among his requests were declarations concerning the President’s timeframe for assenting to bills and the President’s inability to obstruct Parliament from transmitting passed bills to him.
Meanwhile, Lead Counsel for Dafeamekpor, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo in engagements with reporters indicated that the case is most likely to continue at the Court of Appeal