Protesters have started gathering at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (circle) for the march against the delayed hearing of cases on the anti-gay Bill by the Supreme Court. The protesters to say the initiative is crucial to protect the innocence of the future of Ghanaian children. There are two anti-LGBTQ+ cases currently before the Supreme Court that have not been scheduled for hearing.
The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Justice Ellen Ofer-Ayeh, who is also a Justice of the High Court, has explained that the delay in hearing the case has been caused by the parties to the suits who have failed to file the necessary processes. However, Mr Sam George contends that Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has the power to whip the errant parties into line.
According to him, the demonstration is therefore to put pressure on the Chief Justice to prioritise the case. “Justice delayed is justice denied and the expeditious delivery of justice is critical to an effective justice delivery system. So, the Chief Justice must be up and doing. Based on the letter from the Chief Justice to us, where she says that the Attorney-General is partly to blame, we will go to the Chief Justice and the Attorney-General,” Sam George stated on Accra-based Citi FM on October 7.
Mr George noted that the protest is non-partisan, “This fight is for the innocence of our children. It is multi-ethnic and multi-religious. We have the support of the Chief Imam. Party colours are not allowed. We are doing this under the auspices of the national flag.”
In a related development, the Greater Accra Regional Secretariat of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has scheduled what it calls a family values march for October 8. The march is in protest of what they termed the “delay of the cost process” in respect of the antigay bill.
In an invitation letter sighted by 3news, the Greater Regional Chairman, Apostle Enoch Osafo wrote, “We are writing to formally invite all Pastors and congregations to participate in the Family Value March, a peaceful demonstration against the delay of the Court process on the verdict, which seeks to pave the way for the President’s signature into law. The letter added that, “This crucial initiative aims to protect the innocence of our children.
Here are photos from the protest:
