Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses challenges to controversial anti-LGBT bill
Ghana’s Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed two legal challenges against a proposed anti-LGBT bill, which has drawn criticism from rights groups and the United Nations.
The legislation, known as the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, seeks to impose a three-year prison sentence on individuals identifying as LGBT and up to five years for those forming or funding LGBT organizations.
The challenges were brought forward by Amanda Odoi and Richard Dela-Sky, who aimed to have the bill declared unconstitutional and to prevent President Nana Akufo-Addo from enacting it. President Akufo-Addo had delayed signing the bill, pending the Supreme Court’s decision.
Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson stated that the court could not review the case until the president had signed the bill into law, leading to the unanimous dismissal of the challenges. Lawyers for Odoi and Dela-Sky expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling and are considering further legal options.
The bill has garnered support from both of Ghana’s main political parties. However, concerns have been raised about the parliamentary process, with claims that there were insufficient MPs present during the vote.
The BBC reports that even opposition leader John Mahama, who won the recent presidential election, has expressed support for the legislation.
Currently, same-sex relations in Ghana are punishable by up to three years in prison. The proposed legislation has already led to increased attacks on the LGBT community, according to Abena Takyiwaa Manuh of the Centre for Democratic Governance.
The bill’s passage has also sparked concerns from the finance ministry, warning that Ghana could lose about $3.8bn (£3bn) in World Bank funding over the next five to six years if it becomes law.
(Original reporting by the BBC.)
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