Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has criticized the Executive Secretary to President Akufo-Addo, Nana Bediatuo Asante.
Nana Bediatuo made headlines for a letter he wrote to the Clerk of Parliament, urging him to halt the transmission of the anti-LGBT+ Bill to the presidency for assent, citing two legal suits against the Bill.
The letter’s tone and contents have been seen as contemptuous of the House, particularly by opposition lawmakers and Speaker Alban Bagbin.
Mr Ablakwa, in a social media post dated March 20, 2024, reiterated the view that the Presidency should not assume it can control Parliament through its actions.
“I hope President Akufo-Addo’s Secretary, Nana Asante Bediatuo, isn’t assuming he can control the Ghanaian Parliament like he controls Madam Butterfly Restaurant Limited, which he incorporated after becoming Secretary to the President of Ghana.
“Parliament’s constitutional independence must be respected. We shall not be subjected to the control of familial appointees at the presidency!” Ablakwa’s post, which was accompanied by company documents with Bediatuo’s registration details, read in part.
“I shall reserve the activities of Madam Butterfly for another day. By the way, how different is Bediatuo’s butterfly from Alan’s butterfly? Interesting days ahead,” the post concluded.
In his formal response to President Akufo-Addo’s refusal to receive the anti-LGBT+ Bill, as stated in Bediatuo’s letter, Speaker Bagbin accused the presidency of acting contrary to the Constitution.
Bagbin also communicated Parliament’s inability to approve some of the president’s ministerial nominees at the tail end of his statement, read in Parliament, citing an injunction brought against him and Parliament by an opposition MP.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has denied receiving any interlocutory injunction related to the case brought by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Etse K. Dafeamekpor over the ministerial appointment made by President Akufo-Addo.
Mr. Dame, in a letter addressed to the Speaker on Thursday, March 21, clarified that he has not been served with any legal documents regarding such court proceedings.
“The plaintiff has not filed an application for interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the Speaker from proceeding with the vetting and approval of the names of the persons submitted by His Excellency the President…”, or indeed, any other interlocutory relief.”
“Thus, there is nothing before the Supreme Court which may constitute a restraint or fetter on Parliament from proceeding with the approval of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees presented to Parliament by the President in accordance with articles 78(1) and 79(1) of the Constitution.”
tigpost.co
