Ghana's Supreme Court has made a significant decision regarding the country's controversial anti-LGBT legislation. The court dismissed two separate cases challenging the legality of the bill, which is considered one of Africa's most restrictive laws targeting the rights of LGBT individuals and advocates.
The bill, which was unanimously approved by Ghana's parliament in February, aims to further crackdown on the rights of LGBT people and those promoting non-conventional sexual or gender identities. President Nana Akufo-Addo had delayed signing the bill pending the legal challenges filed at the Supreme Court.
Two lawyers, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, filed separate challenges seeking to declare the bill illegal and prevent the president from signing it. However, the court ruled that the cases were premature, stating that until there is presidential assent, the bill does not become law.
The legislation, sponsored by a coalition of Christian, Muslim, and traditional leaders, not only reinforces existing penalties for gay sex but also introduces stricter punishments for promoting or supporting LGBTQ+ activities.
Despite concerns raised by some quarters, including a warning from the finance ministry about potential financial implications, supporters of the bill have been advocating for its implementation. Critics fear that the law could endanger the lives and rights of LGBT individuals and human rights defenders in Ghana.
Abena Takyiwaa Manuh, a senior fellow at the Centre for Democratic Governance in Accra, expressed concerns about the potential impact of the court's decision on the LGBT community and human rights defenders, warning that it could embolden those seeking to harm them.
The ruling by Ghana's Supreme Court sets the stage for the president to sign the bill into law, despite ongoing opposition and concerns about its implications for the country's human rights landscape.
