Journalist and lawyer Richard Dela Sky has come under intense criticism after filing a suit in Ghana’s apex court against the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
The bill, which seeks to criminalise homosexuality and LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana, has been passed by Parliament but has not yet been signed by President Nana Akufo-Addo, who has said he will wait for the Supreme Court to rule on its constitutionality.
Several citizens, including Sam George, one of the proponents of the bill, have cricitized Mr Sky over his move. Presently, Deputy National Organiser of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Elikem Eric Kevin Kwame Kotoko, appears to be the latest individual who has condemned Richard Dela Sky.
Elikem Kotoko, who is a vocal supporter of the bill, has, in a cryptic message, slammed Richard Sky for lacking the moral grounds to undertake such an initiative by making some shocking revelations about Richard Sky’s family background, alleging that his father was a rapist and a paedophile who had committed incest with his own daughter and another minor.
Without explicitly mentioning Sky’s name, Elikem posted on Facebook and X, details of one Mr Moon, who he claimed was being used to “mount a challenge to this bill.”
He then hinted at Richard Sky’s identity by breaking his name into two syllables and forming a sentence with each part.
“He wasn’t Rich and he was never Ard either, growing up. He lacked that proper upbringing to appreciate what a home was or is and the true definition of family. Don’t be surprised, he has accepted to be used by his paymasters to mount this challenge,” he noted.
Elikem asserted that this may be because Mr. Moon “lacked the parental care from home as a child,” due to his father’s alleged crimes.
“His father slept with his own biological daughter (incest) and later with another minor (rape or paedophilia), so he was sent to gaol for that conduct but now he is back to resettle within society after serving his sentence. Certainly, his conduct and absence created a vacuum in the life of Moon. His dad was a rapist, a paedophile and rather than uphold some values to depart from the father, no, ‘the crap doesn’t give birth to’,” he wrote.
He also claimed that Mr Moon had changed his surname from “Ku***nu” to “Skies” to escape the stigma of his father’s crimes.
“Little Moon was a little boy then though but as he grew, to escape the stigma he refused to use his family surname, Ku***nu, instead
resorted to the Skies for a name which he willingly imposed on himself,” he added.
In an earlier post, the NDC Executive accused the journalist of being a protégé of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and of colluding with the president to delay the enactment of the bill.
He posted a copy of the Supreme Court writ initiated by Richard Sky on his Facebook page and expressed his disappointment in the journalist’s action. He also pointed out that the president had mentioned a lawsuit challenging the bill on March 4, 2024, a day before Richard Sky filed his suit.
“The statement by the president was false, there was no writ filed as of yesterday. It was until today that Richard Dela Sky, who is considered a known protégé of the governing NPP, filed a writ at the Supreme Court today. This means that before Richard Sky filed his writ, it was probably agreed between him and the governing NPP. President Akufo-Addo and the NPP are sponsoring a challenge to the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, period. Such a shame!” he wrote.
Elikem Kotoko’s allegations have sparked a lot of reactions on social media, with some people supporting him and others criticising him for his personal attacks on Richard Sky. Richard Sky has not yet responded to Elikem Kotoko’s claims or confirmed or denied his involvement in the lawsuit against the bill.
On the issue of the lawsuit, Mr Sky has clarified that his legal action is not a reflection of his personal views on LGBTQI+ individuals.
He asserts that it is an endeavour to ensure strict adherence to the Constitution and safeguard the fundamental human rights enshrined within it.
