Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed a challenge to the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, paving the way for its potential enactment into law, Bloomberg reports.
The decision, delivered unanimously by a seven-member panel led by Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, ends a petition filed by broadcast journalist Richard Dela Sky arguing the bill’s unconstitutionality.
The ruling represents a significant setback for the LGBTQ+ community in Ghana. Uganda recently passed a law imposing the death penalty for certain LGBTQ+ related offenses, while Kenya and Tanzania have also implemented anti-LGBTQ+ measures.
The bill, introduced in parliament in 2021, faces a crucial deadline. Outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo, who had deferred a decision pending the Supreme Court’s ruling, now has seven days to either sign the bill into law, refuse to do so, or refer it to the Council of State for advice.
The proposed law carries severe penalties, criminalizing not only LGBTQ+ individuals but also those who fail to report them, including family members and colleagues.
