President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has issued a detailed explanation for his decision to withhold assent to three crucial bills: the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill Number 2, 2023, and the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023.
In a letter addressed to Parliament, President Akufo-Addo underscored that his decision stems from the potential financial impact on the state's consolidated fund and concerns about a violation of Article 108 of the constitution.
The President, after consultations with the Attorney General, highlighted the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill 2023, a private member's bill sponsored by MP Francis Xavier Sosu, as a key factor.
The bill aimed to replace the death penalty with a life sentence, triggering financial implications associated with the cost of incarceration.
President Akufo-Addo's letter explained, “Upon a thorough review of the relevant constitutional legislative frameworks, specifically Article 108 of the constitution and section 100 of the Public Financial Management Act 2016, Act 921, it is evident that the bill, introduced as private member's bills by the honourable member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu, do not conform with the provisions of the constitution.”
He emphasized that bills avoiding the death penalty and criminalizing witch doctors carry substantial financial obligations on the consolidated fund and other public funds due to projected costs related to imprisonment, sustenance, and healthcare for those convicted under the proposed laws.
President Akufo-Addo argued that these bills should not have been introduced without a fiscal impact analysis, which precludes them from being properly classified as private member's bills.
He asserted that parliament's legislative power comes with responsibilities to ensure that all enacted laws comply with constitutional provisions safeguarding the nation's fiscal integrity and governance principles.
