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There is controversy in the suit challenging the ‘anti-gay bill‘ over the existence of a financial impact analysis purportedly prepared by the Speaker of Parliament before the bill was passed.
At the Supreme Court on Thursday [Oct 30, 2024], lawyers from the Office of the Attorney-General, and the plaintiff challenging the passage of the bill, wondered why the Speaker of Parliament had not made the analysis available since his lawyers stated in July 2024 that such a document indeed existed.
A Chief State Attorney, Sylvia Adusu, moved an application for an extension of time to enable the A-G to file its statement of case. The A-G, which is the second defendant, said it had been forced to delay its statement of case due to the Speaker’s failure to produce the analysis.
The Chief State Attorney said the financial analysis, if indeed available, would have far-reaching consequences on the case. Therefore, she wondered why the Speaker was not making it available, as he promised.
“We did not delay out of disrespect for this court but we were waiting for certain documents from the first defendant (Speaker), which in July he said was available,” she submitted.
The counsel for the plaintiff, Paa Kwesi Abaidoo, also expressed reservations about the Speaker’s failure to produce the financial impact assessment.
However, the single judge who presided over the case, Justice Yaw Asare Darko, wondered why the two lawyers were making a big fuss about the said financial impact assessment.
“If you have a case with someone, and the person says he has a document that will inure to his benefit, and he is not producing, why force him,” the presiding judge answered.
Justice Darko granted the extension of time requested by the A-G to file its statement of case by granting it an additional seven days.
Adomonline
