Lawyer and human rights activist, Martin Kpebu has expressed doubts about the likelihood of the anti-gay bill, officially known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill of 2021, becoming law.
This bill seeks to restrict the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, queers, and other individuals with non-heterosexual orientations.
Mr Kpebu argued that due to the Supreme Court’s tight schedule, there may not be sufficient time to address the bill’s constitutionality before it reaches President Akufo-Addo for assent.
“It will only take a miracle for it to become law. Lawyers are going on vacation and will only deal with emergency cases. This gay bill does not qualify as an emergency case. The court will resume hearings after mid-October, but there are still quite a number of steps to take before the court reaches a decision. Practically, this bill is not likely to become law,” Mr. Kpebu explained.
Recently, the Supreme Court postponed its ruling on whether Parliament had the authority to forward the anti-gay bill to the President for potential assent.