The Supreme Court of Ghana has unanimously dismissed two lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQI bill.
The first suit was filed by media personality Richard Dela Sky, who contended that the bill violated several provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including Articles 33(5), 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1)(a)(b)(d) and (e).
Mr. Sky sought eight reliefs, one of which claimed that the Speaker of Parliament breached Article 108(a)(ii) by permitting the passage of a bill that imposes a charge on the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana.
The second suit was brought by Dr. Amanda Odoi, a researcher, who raised concerns over specific provisions within the bill.
She requested a restraining order to prevent the Speaker of Parliament, the Attorney-General, and the Clerk of Parliament from forwarding the bill to President Akufo-Addo for assent.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court, chaired by Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, determined that both suits failed to properly invoke its jurisdiction to interpret and enforce the Constitution.
This decision clears the way for the anti-LGBTQI bill to proceed through the legislative process without further legal impediments.
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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