Court adjourns Dafeamekpor mandamus application

The Accra High Court has adjourned to April 29, to continue with hearing of MP for South Dayi, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor’s application for mandamus, that is an order to compel the Speaker of Parliament and the President to act on the anti LGBTQ bill within 7 days. The adjournment follows a request by State lawyers and the applicant’s lawyer’s plea for time to file responses.

The court was expected to hear the Attorney General’s response to the Applicant’s motion which was moved by his lawyer Nii Kpakpo Saamoa Addo last week. Principal State Attorney George Tetteh Sackey, on the last sitting, informed the court that the state will respond to the application on point of law on the adjourned date, which was Thursday April 18. However, during the day’s hearing, he told the court, the state has filed an affidavit in response to the mandamus application.

The applicant’s lawyer, Nii Kpakpo Addo, urged the court to grant him time to reply to the State’s response to their motion to address some specific issues raised. He also presented copies of a letter from Parliament to the Office of the President asking for a specific date for the transmission of the Human Sexual and Family Values Bill for presidential assent to the court and the state. George Tetteh Sackey, informed the court of a direction from his office, to seek a brief adjournment to study the said letter.

The South Dayi Member of Parliament Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor wants the court to order the Speaker of Parliament to present the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill to the President in accordance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution on the basis that Parliament has duly complied with all the Constitutional provisions.

It is his case that the Bill must be transmitted to and received by the President for assent or otherwise in accordance with Article 106 (7) of the Constitution. Mr Dafeamekpor further prays for an order directed at the President to receive the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill as presented by Parliament. Nii Kpakpo Addo, lawyer for Nelson Dafeamekpor, believes the latest adjournment, does not affect his clients pursuit, for an expeditious hearing.
The case has been adjourned to April 29, for continuation.