We will take Chief Justice on during our LGBTQ demo on Sep. 21 – Sam George

• Aug 16, 2024

Proponents of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill have rescheduled their protest to September 21, 2024.

Initially, the protest to be embarked on due to the Supreme Court’s delay in ruling on the injunction applications against the transmission of the bill to President Nana Akufo-Addo was initially scheduled to happen on August 21, 2024.

Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament, Sam Nartey George, made this known when he engaged the media while expressing displeasure with Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkornoo, presiding over a five-member panel hearing the case.

According to him, the matter should have been dealt with already but the Chief Justice keeps prolonging the case.

He wants Justice Torkornoo to provide a timeline for the case.

“It is an abuse of her powers under Article 296 of the constitution. She is acting arbitrarily, capriciously and maliciously. We will take her on for that,” Sam George.

The Supreme Court of Ghana has postponed its ruling on the injunction applications filed by Broadcast Journalist Richard Dela Sky and Researcher Dr. Amanda Odoi regarding the transmission of the controversial anti-LGBTQ bill to President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The court announced that it will deliver its ruling on the injunction applications concurrently with the final judgment.

Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, presiding over a five-member panel, emphasized that an expedited trial would better serve the interests of justice in this matter.

The decision comes amidst heightened public interest and legal scrutiny surrounding the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill recently passed by Parliament.

During separate hearings, the Supreme Court addressed the concerns raised by Richard Dela Sky and Dr. Amanda Odoi. Mr. Sky challenges the constitutionality of the bill, arguing that it violates multiple provisions of the 1992 constitution and encroaches upon fundamental human rights.

Dr. Odoi, on the other hand, expressed specific reservations about certain provisions within the bill and sought an injunction to halt its transmission to the President for approval. Her legal counsel, Dr. Ernest Ackon, contended that the bill’s passage lacked a fiscal impact analysis, potentially infringing Article 108 of the constitution.

In response, the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, defended Parliament’s actions, asserting that the Speaker’s discretion in transmitting bills to the President is constitutionally bound and does not require additional fiscal scrutiny beyond what is explicitly stated in the bill.

Thaddeus Sory, representing the Speaker of Parliament, argued against the injunctions, emphasizing that the legislative process remains ongoing until the bill receives presidential assent, thus placing it outside the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction to intervene prematurely.

Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, passed the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill also known as the anti-LGBTQ bill after three years following its introduction.

tigpost.co