Ghanaian journalist Richard Dela Sky has taken legal action against Parliament at the Supreme Court over the passing of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, Mr. Sky is requesting the court interpret and enforce the Constitution.
He is also seeking an order to prevent the Speaker and Clerk of Parliament from submitting the bill to the President for approval. Additionally, he is seeking an injunction against the enforcement of the bill, particularly the section that criminalizes same-sex relationships.
Mr. Sky argues that the bill violates various constitutional provisions, including those related to human rights, dignity, privacy, equality before the law, and freedom of speech and thought.
He is asking the court to declare that the bill goes against these provisions, as well as the constitutional requirements for passing a bill. Mr. Sky also contends that Parliament did not have the necessary quorum when the bill was passed, as outlined in the Constitution.
This legal challenge is not the only one questioning the bill’s constitutionality. Before its passage, human rights activist Dr. Amanda Odoi had already brought a case to the Supreme Court, alleging that Parliament and the Speaker had violated the constitution.
Dr. Odoi’s case focused on the Speaker’s failure to address the potential financial implications of the bill on the country, as required by the Constitution.
Meanwhile, the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, has made it clear that he does not support the anti-gay bill recently passed by the Ghanaian parliament.
He emphasized that Ghana will continue to uphold its reputation as a protector of human rights. According to a statement released by the President, the bill is currently being contested in the Supreme Court, and the nation must wait for the court’s decision.
The anti-gay bill was approved by Ghana’s Parliament on February 28, 2024. Read more here.
