The Majority Leader in Parliament, James Agalga, has offered fresh clarification on the position of Speaker Alban Bagbin and President John Mahama regarding the contentious Anti-LGBTQI Bill, firmly addressing concerns previously raised by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Speaking during a leadership engagement with parliamentary journalists, Agalga explained that Speaker Bagbin’s recent intervention was strictly focused on refining the bill rather than impeding its passage. He stressed that the Speaker merely highlighted misaligned penal provisions to ensure the final legislation remains legally sound and capable of enduring constitutional scrutiny.
“Should we allow the misaligned penal provisions to stay the way they are? And that is where Mr. Speaker comes in. Mr Speaker says no, look I have looked at this, you want to pass a bill that can stand the test of judicial scrutiny. Look at your penal provisions and see whether they are well aligned. That’s all,” he said.
Addressing demands from the Minority caucus calling on Parliament to pass the bill in the exact form it held during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo for President Mahama’s assent, the Majority Leader rejected the proposal as procedural flaw. He urged all parties involved to prioritize proper legislative standards over hasty outcomes.
“So when they say we should pass the bill in its form, the form in which it was at the time of President Akufo-Addo and present same to President Mahama to assent to, I mean it’s neither here nor there. Please let’s do what is proper,” he stressed.
Agalga further assured the public that the Executive arm under President Mahama will uphold the separation of powers and refrain from intruding upon parliamentary business, drawing a sharp distinction from previous administrative practices.
“We have insisted that under President Mahama there is no way once the bill is presented letters will be written to caution Parliament about how it performs as an arm of government. We will not do that. The Jubilee House will not write letters to Parliament to caution Parliament to desist and refrain from transmitting bills. Let’s have that at the back of our minds,” he stated.
Reaffirming the commitment of the House leadership, Agalga concluded that Parliament remains dedicated to taking all necessary legal steps to deliver a robust piece of legislation that can withstand any future judicial challenges.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
