The Supreme Court of Ghana has initiated discussions on the issues surrounding the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed by parliament earlier this year.
Lawyer and journalist Richard Dela Sky was granted permission by the court to contest the bill. The bill imposes strict penalties, including imprisonment, for individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ or advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
The lawsuit, filed in March 2024, seeks to halt the bill’s progression, compelling the court to prevent parliamentary officials from forwarding the bill to the president for approval and to prevent President Nana Akufo Addo from enacting it into law.
The proceedings were intense as arguments ensued between legal representatives and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. Torkornoo highlighted that inflammatory language was used in some affidavits and cautioned against its future use. Chief Justice Torkornoo and four other Supreme Court judges presided over the hearing broadcast live on television.
The President of Ghana has opted to await the Supreme Court’s judgment before making his final decision on the bill. The case was adjourned until May 17, 2024.
Watch the clip from the heated discussions that ensued in the Supreme Court.
