The Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has clarified that Parliament has not yet completed the process of finalizing the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, before sending it to the Presidency for assent.
He explained that the bill underwent several amendments and needed to be finalized before transmission to the President.
Once the bill is tidied up, Afenyo-Markin stated that the Clerk-to-Parliament would authenticate it for the Speaker to certify.
“Currently, the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk-to-Parliament are yet to receive the authenticated bill for the process to be completed and the bill transmitted to the President,” he said.
Addressing the press in Parliament on March 4, 2024, Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated, “It is when all these are done that the bill is forwarded to the President for his assent.”
“As the Leader of the House, I can say on authority that we have not completed the process, and the public needs to know this so that a certain impression is not created that Parliament has transmitted the bill to the Presidency,” he said.
According to Article 106, when a bill is passed by Parliament, the President must signify his assent within seven days. However, if the President refuses to sign the bill into law, Parliament must be informed within 14 days of the reasons for non-assent.
If Parliament deems the bill crucial, it can compel the President by a two-thirds majority resolution to assent to the bill.
Afenyo-Markin noted that currently, the Draft Department of Parliament is still compiling the bill after its passage by the House. Additionally, some changes need to be made before the draft bill is sent to the President.
“The Drafting Department is still in the process of compiling the bill; they are putting together all the amendments and legal language,” he said.
After the finalization process, the sponsors of the bill will review the draft before the Clerk-to-Parliament authenticates it and forwards it to the Speaker for certification.
“So, we have not even completed the first leg of compilation; so, nobody should sit somewhere counting days.
“The reckoning of time will only be triggered on receipt by the President of this bill,” he said.
