The Office of the President has clarified that President Akufo-Addo has not declined to assent to the Criminal Offences (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, 2023, which seeks to outlaw witch doctors and witch-finding practices.
On Monday, November 27, 2023, a Minority Member of Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu on the floor of the House, accused the President of not assenting to the Bill despite its passage on of March 29, 2023.
The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, during the deliberations in Parliament also rebuked President Akufo-Addo over his silence on the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill.
But in a press statement released by the Presidency on Tuesday, November 29, Akufo-Addo said the accusations levelled against him are “wholly inaccurate that the Bill has been sitting on the desk of the President without receiving due attention.”
The statement indicated that the bill was only formally presented to Akufo-Addo on Monday, November 27, 2023—the same day Speaker Bagbin raised concerns.
According to the statement, the legislative measure aimed at amending the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), together with the Wildlife Resources Management Bill, 2023 and National Petroleum Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, officially got to him “under cover of a letter dated 27th November 2023, with reference PS/CS/112/826.”
Below are the presidency's statements: