IN a significant legal development, Ghana’s high court has dismissed a challenge aimed at compelling President Nana Akufo-Addo to act promptly on an anti-LGBTQ bill passed by parliament earlier this year. The ruling, issued on Monday, underscores the ongoing debate surrounding LGBTQ rights in the West African nation.
Lawmakers had unanimously approved legislation designed to escalate measures against LGBTQ rights within Ghana, urging President Akufo-Addo to enact the new law. However, the presidency’s stance on withholding the bill until two pending legal challenges are resolved has sparked criticism, particularly within parliament.
Opposition lawmaker Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, dissatisfied with the delay, pursued legal recourse by taking the matter to the high court. Regrettably for Dafeamekpor, the court ruled against his challenge, highlighting the complexity of the situation.
In her ruling, Justice Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku explained the court’s decision, stating, ‘It would be inappropriate to compel Akufo-Addo to act on a bill facing two pending Supreme Court challenges.’
Expressing disappointment with the verdict, Dafeamekpor’s lawyer announced intentions to appeal the decision, indicating the persistence in challenging the delay.
Ghana’s legal landscape regarding LGBTQ issues is already contentious, with gay sex carrying a penalty of up to three years in jail. The proposed anti-LGBTQ bill seeks to extend this sentence and escalate measures against LGBTQ individuals and those accused of promoting LGBTQ identities.
Despite mounting pressure for the bill’s enactment, concerns have been raised regarding its potential consequences. The finance ministry has warned that its implementation could endanger significant international financing, including $3.8bn in World Bank funding and a $3bn International Monetary Fund loan package aimed at aiding Ghana’s economic recovery.
This development in Ghana parallels past instances in other African nations, such as Uganda, where the World Bank suspended new funding following the enactment of stringent anti-LGBTQ laws. The intersection of legal, social, and economic factors continues to shape the discourse surrounding LGBTQ rights in various regions across the globe.