Parliament has officially asked the Chief Justice to accelerate the hearing of cases linked to the Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, often referred to as the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill.
In a petition filed on Thursday, March 28, Parliament’s legal representatives highlighted the considerable public interest in these cases and emphasized the necessity of swift resolutions to alleviate tensions among Ghanaians.
Drawing attention to the recent hearing of MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor’s case, Parliament emphasized the importance of consistency in addressing similar legal issues.
“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 mentioned ongoing lawsuits initiated by Richard Dela Sky and Dr. Amanda Odoi, both contesting the anti-gay bill on the basis of constitutional violations of homosexual rights.
Their legal actions aim to prevent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo from signing the bill into law.
Additionally, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the highest court of bias for prioritizing the hearing of the application by South Dayi MP, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, over the confirmation of ministerial and deputy ministerial nominees, while the case challenging the anti-LGBTQ Bill filed earlier by Richard Sky remains unresolved.
The NDC claimed that this decision suggests collusion between the court and the government to expedite the approval of their nominees in Parliament while postponing executive action on the Anti-LGBTQ bill.