Ghana’s Supreme Court has initiated proceedings to review the anti-LGBTQ+ bill approved by parliament in February.
Lawyer and journalist Richard Dela Sky’s petition to contest the contentious bill was granted by the court. The bill entails a three-year imprisonment for individuals identifying as gay, and a five to ten-year sentence for LGBTQ+ advocates.
In March, a lawsuit was filed seeking to prevent the speaker and clerk of parliament from forwarding the bill to the president, and to restrain President Nana Akufo Addo from enacting it into law. Another case challenging the bill’s constitutionality, filed by academic researcher Dr. Amanda Odoi, was also heard.
The first day of hearings unfolded amidst tension, marked by intense arguments between legal representatives and the chief justice over oral submissions. Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo expressed apprehension regarding the language used in certain sworn statements, deeming it inappropriate and scandalous.
Given the controversial nature of the bill, condemned by Western donors and human rights organizations, the heated atmosphere on the first day of hearings wasn’t unexpected. The proceedings, comprising the chief justice and four other Supreme Court judges, were televised live due to the significant public interest.
President Akufo Addo stated his intention to await the Supreme Court’s verdict before making a decision on the bill’s enactment into law.