Proponents of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, often referred to as the anti-gay bill, are holding a protest today, Tuesday, October 8, to express their frustration over the delays in the bill’s final approval. The protestors are calling for immediate action, urging the president to give his assent to the bill, which was passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, but has since stalled.
The protest is being organised to draw attention to the long wait for the bill’s implementation. One of the key factors causing the delay is a Supreme Court ruling on July 17, 2024, which deferred judgments on cases challenging the bill until all associated legal matters have been addressed. This postponement has left supporters of the bill increasingly anxious.
Leading the charge for the bill’s passage is Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, and a prominent advocate of the legislation. In an interview with Citi FM, Mr George criticised the delay and emphasised that the bill represents the will of the Ghanaian people, as reflected in its parliamentary approval.
He stated that further delays are undermining the legislative process. The lawmaker also pointed out that the Chief Justice of Ghana has the authority to expedite the case if deemed necessary. He called for the judiciary to prioritise the matter to allow the bill to be signed into law, citing the importance of resolving the issue promptly to uphold the nation’s values and principles.
“The Chief Justice has the power to demand of all the parties in the case, that they file within the times stipulated in the Rules of Procedure, that you file a statement of claim within 14 days. All of this is clear and the Chief Justice is the one who has powers to ensure that.”
“If everybody is going to take one year to file their documents, the Chief Justice thinks that that is a proper delivery of justice, where parties in the case will determine as and when and how they would be doing their filing.”
“Justice delayed is justice denied and the expeditious delivery of justice is critical to an effective justice delivery system and so the Chief Justice has to be up and doing,” he stated.
Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect Ghanaian cultural values and curb the growing influence of LGBTQ+ activities in the country. The protesters are hopeful that their actions will spur the government and judiciary to act swiftly in moving the bill forward for final approval.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
