Supporters of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, are staging a protest today, Tuesday, October 8, to express their frustration over the delays in the bill’s final approval.
The demonstrators are demanding swift action, urging the president to sign the bill into law. Although Parliament passed the bill on February 28, 2024, it has not progressed further.
The protest aims to highlight the extended wait for the bill’s implementation, which has been stalled in part due to a Supreme Court ruling on July 17, 2024. The court postponed its decision on legal challenges to the bill until all related issues are resolved, adding to the growing anxiety among its proponents.
Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and a key advocate for the bill, has been leading the call for its enactment. In an interview with Citi FM, George expressed his frustration with the delays, stressing that the bill reflects the will of the Ghanaian people, as demonstrated by its approval in Parliament.
He argued that the continued postponement is weakening the legislative process and urged the Chief Justice to expedite the legal review. George emphasised the need for the judiciary to prioritise the case so that the bill can be signed into law, asserting that it is crucial to uphold the values and principles of the nation.
“The Chief Justice has the power to demand of all the parties in the case that they file within the times stipulated in the Rules of Procedure, that you file a statement of claim within 14 days. All of this is clear, and the Chief Justice is the one who has powers to ensure that.”
“If everybody is going to take one year to file their documents, the Chief Justice thinks that that is a proper delivery of justice, where parties in the case will determine as and when and how they would be doing their filing.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied, and the expeditious delivery of justice is critical to an effective justice delivery system, and so the Chief Justice has to be up and doing,” he stated.
Supporters of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill believe it is essential to safeguard Ghana’s cultural traditions and counter the increasing presence of LGBTQ+ practices in the nation.
They are optimistic that their protest will prompt both the government and judiciary to expedite the process, ensuring the bill is advanced for final approval.