The Supreme Court has recently approved a request by private legal practitioner and journalist, Richard Dela Sky, to make amendments to his case challenging the legality of Parliament passing the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-gay bill.
This amendment comes in the midst of another similar case filed by researcher Dr. Amanda Odoi, also contesting the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ bill.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has highlighted that these lawsuits have delayed the transmission of the bill to him for approval. The court session on Wednesday saw lawyers for Richard Sky requesting to amend certain aspects of their case.
Thaddeus Sory, counsel for the first defendant, proposed that the applicant amend paragraphs five and seven of his applications to align with his reliefs. Paragraph five seeks to prevent the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament from presenting the Human and Sexual Values Bill to the President, while paragraph seven aims to block enforcement of the bill’s provisions criminalizing same-sex relationships.
Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo agreed with Sory’s suggestion and adjourned the amendment process to May 17, allowing the plaintiff to file a fresh motion paper with supporting documents. The Chief Justice also permitted defendants seven days to respond after being served with the plaintiff’s new motion.
Richard Dela Sky’s case challenges the bill as unconstitutional, citing violations of the 1992 Constitution. Dr. Amanda Odoi, on the other hand, has raised concerns about specific provisions in the bill and is seeking a restraining order to prevent the bill from reaching President Akufo-Addo for approval.
The public interest in these cases has led to the live broadcast of the court proceedings on electronic media. This move was granted by the Chief Justice following a request from the Attorney General, acknowledging the growing attention and interest in the matter.
