The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has urged the Chief Justice to permit live coverage of proceedings related to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
In a letter to the Chief Justice, the Attorney General cited the considerable public interest in the anti-gay bill as the basis for the request.
“Respectfully, in view of the public interest in the cases concerning the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 (the Bill) I would like to recommend that the media (including radio and television) be given full access to the relevant courts to undertake a coverage of all proceedings in those cases concerning the Bill,” the letter stated.
The Attorney General listed the following cases: Dr. Amanda Odoi v The Speaker of Parliament and Another (Suit No. J1/13/2023), Richard Dela Sky v The Parliament of Ghana and Another (Suit No. J1/9/2024), Mr. Paul Boama-Sefa v The Speaker of Parliament and Another (Suit No. D45/SF.128/2023), and Dr. Prince Obiri-Korang v The Attorney-General (Suit No. J1/18/2021).
“It is my respectful view that the transparency to be engendered by a coverage of the proceedings would be in the best interest of the administration of justice,” the letter concluded.
Broadcast Journalist Richard Dela Sky and Researcher Dr. Amanda Odoi are set to appear before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, to present their respective lawsuits challenging the passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill and its potential assent.
These lawsuits have halted the bill’s progression from parliament to the Presidency for possible assent by President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo.
Richard Sky and Dr. Amanda Odoi are contesting the constitutionality of the bill’s passage by Parliament, arguing that it violates various provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including Article 33(5), Articles 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1) (a) (b) (d) and (e).
Sky is seeking several reliefs, including a declaration that the Speaker of Parliament violated Article 108(a)(ii) of the Constitution by allowing Parliament to pass the bill into law without following due process.
The bill, which prohibits LGBTQ activities, promotion, advocacy, and funding, was passed by Parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has yet to assent to the bill and has stated that he will await the Supreme Court’s ruling before making a decision.
