Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ningo-Prampram constituency and one of the sponsors of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill has unequivocally stated that the suit filed at the Supreme Court has not placed any injunction on President Akuffo-Addo not to assent to the bill.
In an interview with Alfred Ocansey on TV3’s Hot Issues programme today [March 10], the Ningo-Prampram legislator disagreed with President Akufo-Addo’s position to await a supreme court decision on the bill before “any action is taken.”
“The court suit has not placed an injunction on the President. It is one of the reliefs that Richard Sky is seeking in his suit but again, we await to see what the Supreme Court determines,” said Sam George.
He cited Amanda Odoi’s case on the same anti-LGBTQ+ bill, seeking to injunct Parliament from undertaking its constitutional mandate. The Supreme Court ruled 9-0 in favor of Parliament.
“Like you rightly pointed out, Amanda Odoi went to the Supreme Court in June 2023 to actually seek an injunction as one of her reliefs against the Speaker of Parliament to stop the Speaker from doing the second consideration and doing the clause-by-clause consideration.
“The Supreme Court set up a nine-member panel chaired by the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, and they returned a 9-0 verdict against Amanda Odoi, because on what basis are you asking the Supreme Court to stop parliament from doing its job?” he added.
The Suit
Richard Dela Sky, a private legal practitioner and journalist, filed a suit at the Supreme Court on March 5, challenging the constitutionality of the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2024 by Parliament.
Sky, amongst other reliefs, is praying to the court to declare the bill “null, void and of no effect.”
The morning show co-host further wants the Supreme Court to grant an order “restraining the President of the Republic from assenting to ‘The Human and Sexual Values Bill, 2024,’ as such action will directly contravene the constitutional safeguards of liberties and rights of Ghanaians.”
Furthermore, President Akufo-Addo, while addressing the diplomatic community following the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, noted that Ghana will not backslide on her enviable hitherto, enviable, longstanding record on human rights observance and attachment to the rule of law
“I think it will serve little purpose to go, at this stage, into the details of the origin of this proposed law, which is yet to reach my desk. But, suffice it to say, that I have learnt that, today, a challenge has been mounted at the Supreme Court by a concerned citizen to the constitutionality of the proposed legislation.
More on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill:
- If Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill is not assented to, process will start all over again in next Parliament – Appiah-Kubi
- Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: Ministry of Finance could have done better – Prof. Bokpin on brief to Akufo-Addo
“In the circumstances, it would be, as well, for all of us to hold our hands, and await the decision of the Court before any action is taken. The operation of the institutions of the Ghanaian state will determine the future trajectory of the rule of law and human rights compliance in our country,” President Akufo-Addo said.
On February 28, Parliament unanimously passed the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, otherwise known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
This has attracted varied reactions from various stakeholders, including the diplomatic community. Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has yet to assent to the bill.