Parliament has formally requested the Chief Justice to expedite the hearing of cases related to the Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill.
In a petition submitted on Friday, March 28, Parliament’s legal representatives emphasised the significant public interest surrounding these cases and stressed the importance of a prompt resolution to ease tensions among Ghanaians.
Highlighting the precedence set by the recent hearing of MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor’s case, Parliament underscored the need for consistency in addressing similar legal matters.
“It will accordingly be appreciated if the parties are given a very early date to expedite the hearing of the applications pending before the Court. We trust that as the applications raise matters of public interest, you will give our letter the attention it deserves.”
The petition specifically referenced ongoing lawsuits filed by Richard Dela Sky and Dr. Amanda Odoi, both challenging the anti-gay bill on grounds of constitutional violations of homosexual rights.
Their legal actions seek to prevent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from assenting the bill into law.
Already, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the apex court of bias for its decision to prioritise the hearing of the application by South Dayi MP, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, over the approval of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees, while the case against the anti-LGBTQ Bill filed earlier by Richard Sky, remains pending.
The NDC alleged that this move reflects a conspiracy by the court to aid the government in facilitating their nominees’ approval in Parliament while delaying executive action on the Anti-LGBTQ bill.