Broadcast journalist and lawyer Richard Dela Skye, filed a petition to the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the LGBTQ+. He had sought that the court makes a declaration that the family bill was unconstitutional and was therefore invalid.
However, on December 18, 2024, a seven member panel of the Supreme Court which was presided over by Justice Lovelace Avril Johnson, unanimously dismissed the petition on grounds that the bill had not followed the steps stipulated in the constitution 1992 regarding the formation of a bill for assent from the president.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill which was passed by parliament in February 2021, seeks to impose a three-year minimum jail term and five years maximum incarceration on those who engage and promote homosexual activities in the country.
The main objective of the Human Rights and Family Values Bill is to proscribe lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender and queer activities in the country, as well as to provide for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian Family values.
Amidst many controversies, court actions and discussions from citizens of Ghana, the bill is yet to be assented to by the president. There have been counts of international input regarding the president’s assent to the bill and its potential impact on the economical and international relationships.
The Supreme court’s decision against Mr. Sky on the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is one of the many petitions brought up against the constitutionality of the bill ever since it was passed by parliament in February 2021.
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