Sponsor of the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2023, Francis Xavier Sosu has taken a swipe at President Akufo-Addo accusing him of deliberately refusing to assent to the bill.
In his view, the president chose to politicise the bill rather than consider the interests of those who are accused of being witches.
“I think that he [President] is being misled or better still he is choosing politics over the protection of human rights. He is choosing politics over the protection of women’s rights. He is choosing politics over protecting vulnerable women in various witch camps probably dying on a daily basis,” he told the media.
President Akufo-Addo is of the view that there would be financial implications on the state’s consolidated fund and potential breaches of Article 108 of the Constitution if he should assent to the bills.
He noted that based on consultation and advice from the Attorney-General he could assent to the bills because the Ghana Armed Forces Amendment Bill, sponsored by MP Francis Xavier Sosu, will have financial burdens associated with replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.
But lawyer Sosu said, “For me, for the President to choose petty partisanship over the protection of the greater good of our society, the human rights of our people. For me, it is quite sad.”
“You will recall that when this bill was sent to the president, I mean on the second of August, the president assented through the bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes under the Criminal Offences Act.
“It was only when the other bills were presented that he refused to assent to the others and then decided to withdraw assent for the first one. So, the whole thing does not even make sense to me,” he added.
By: Rainbowradiooline.com/Ghana
