An Accra High Court has dismissed a suit by the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament, Rockson Dafeamekpor, where he was seeking to have the court compel President Akufo-Addo to receive the anti-gay bill passed by Parliament in February.
In a ruling on Monday, the High Court said it cannot decide the case since there are already pending applications at the Supreme Court challenging the legislation passed by Parliament.
Dafeamekpor’s suit stemmed from the controversy surrounding the delay by the President to sign the bill into law. Having been one of the main sponsors of the anti-gay bill, the NDC MP had wanted the court to also grant orders compelling the Speaker of Parliament to submit the bill to the president for assent.
However, President Akufo-Addo has indicated many times to delay the signing due to legal challenges of the bill at the Supreme Court.
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Two individuals, gender activist Dr. Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, a journalist at private media outlet, Citi FM, have been the only persons to file lawsuits challenging the constitutionality and implications of the bill for the country.
Ms. Odoi’s suit for instance seeks to stop Parliament from presenting the bill to the president for signing. Last year when she cited the Speaker of Parliament for Contempt and sought to halt Parliament from considering aspects of the bill that were disputed by the AG, the Supreme Court dismissed her applications.
It’s not yet certain when the Supreme Court will call the case to bring finality to the matter.
