Proponents of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the Anti-Gay Bill, have scheduled a peaceful march to the Supreme Court to protest delays in the final ruling on the bill.
Scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, 2024, the march will begin at Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, with participants proceeding to submit petitions to the Attorney General and Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
The demonstration aims to push for a resolution to the bill, which has been in limbo since Parliament passed it on February 28, 2024.
The peaceful protest, initially set for two months earlier, will include various religious groups and key stakeholders. The decision to go ahead with the march follows the Supreme Court’s ruling on July 17, 2024, to delay its verdict on anti-gay cases until all legal issues are settled.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities across Ghana. During the march, the sponsors intend to formally request Chief Justice Torkonoo to set a date for the court’s final decision on the matter, highlighting the ongoing national debate on LGBTQ+ rights.
Sam George, the bill’s lead advocate, voiced his concerns in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face on Channel One TV, criticising the Supreme Court’s slow action in scheduling a hearing. He stressed that the court’s delay is impeding the resolution of a critical national issue.
“Basically what the Supreme Court has done is stage judgements. The judiciary today is stopping the legislature from doing a constitutional mandate. Based on Article 106/7 of the Constitution, the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court have basically restrained Parliament from doing so without uttering those words.
“Now you say you want to hear the main case, they haven’t said anything to us; they haven’t given us a timetable. Are you hearing it now? One month or two years, nobody knows what’s going on. She has not even called the main case. We need a timetable to know what she’s going to call the case.”
The Member of Parliament noted that the Supreme Court has previously heard cases during vacation periods, highlighting the inconsistency in delaying this particular case.
He emphasised that further delays are not in the country’s best interest.
“The Supreme Court has been hearing cases during vacation. During vacation, the court of the land has been sitting, and it’s about placing a premium on it.
Earlier two months ago, a decision was taken by the sponsors and some other partners, the Chief Imam’s office, and Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Church that we were going to march to the Chief Justice’s office and give a petition to her, demanding from her to give us a timetable.
“This is a major national issue; we need to have a final determination on the matter, and they should act expeditiously. It’s not a matter the Supreme Court can choose and be lackadaisical or drag its feet. We want to see some action.
“It’s coming off this Tuesday, October 8, we will start from Kwame Nkrumah Circle, a peaceful march, nobody is supposed to come with party colours. We will march to the Supreme Court to demand a ruling on the case.”
Background
On February 28, 2024, Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Act, 2024, a law that outlaws LGBTQ+ activities, including their advocacy, promotion, and financial support.
Under the new legislation, individuals found guilty of engaging in such activities could face imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 3 years. Those involved in promoting or sponsoring these actions could receive jail terms of 3 to 5 years.
The act has been met with legal challenges, with private lawyers Richard Dela Sky and gender activist Dr. Amanda Odoi filing lawsuits to have the law nullified. Additionally, Prince Obiri-Korang, a law lecturer from the University of Ghana, has taken legal steps to overturn the statute.
Although the bill has passed Parliament, its future remains unclear, as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has yet to sign it into law, amid growing international pressure and concerns about its potential economic consequences for Ghana.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, first introduced in 2021, has sparked intense debate, with supporters advocating for the preservation of traditional family structures and critics warning of human rights violations.