NDC opposes Imposition to Restrictions Bill

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed its opposition to the Imposition of Restrictions Bill 2020 presented to Parliament, stating the bill has little to do with the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

It noted that the bill would give the president broad powers and authority devoid of any checks and balances.

Miss Gloria Akuffo, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, on March 18, laid the bill before Parliament to enable the President to impose restrictions on emergency or similar circumstances to ensure public safety and protection.

The bill is intended to provide a legislative framework in consonance with the constitution for the impositions, as a quick, effective and efficient means of intervention to address emergencies.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, Alex Segbefia, a member of the NDC legal team, said the party had no objection to the laws that would assist and support the country to deal with COVID-19, but the bill bore the hallmarks of authoritarian rule.

 “For a statute which is for a particular purpose, has no time limits for expiration, the proposed law is virtually silent on well-known and accepted constitutional procedures by which the dignity and freedoms of the citizenry are protected, the government could have resorted to the Public Health Act 2012 (Act 851), the Public Order Act 1994 (Act 491) and the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573) to provide sufficient measures to address the challenges of the pandemic.

“The Immigration Act equips the Immigration Service with sufficient authority to control movements in and out of control without sweeping powers granted the president in the bill to virtually play with lives of the citizenry, also, the Public Order Act empowers the Minister for the Interior to take actions in the interest of public safety and public health.

“Article 31 of the 1992 Constitution provides elaborate measures on how the country should be governed in a state of emergency, the provisions gave Parliament wide powers of oversight, such that the rights guaranteed by the constitution are not abused by a president,” Mr Segbefia stressed. -GNA