The Supreme Court of Ghana has granted the Attorney General’s Department a seven-day extension to file its statement of case in the legal challenge brought by journalist and private legal practitioner Richard Dela Sky against the Speaker of Parliament. This case questions the constitutionality of the Ghanaian Family Values Bill.
During the proceedings, the State Attorney also requested that the court direct the Speaker’s legal team to submit a Financial Impact Analysis report related to the bill, emphasizing that understanding the financial implications of the proposed legislation could be pivotal to the case’s outcome.
The dispute centers around the Ghanaian Family Values Bill, which aims to promote traditional family norms but has sparked controversy. Critics argue that the bill could infringe on individual rights, particularly those of marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ+ community.
Richard Dela Sky, the plaintiff, asserts that the bill violates core rights enshrined in the Ghanaian Constitution, such as equality before the law and freedom from discrimination. He argues that enacting the bill could lead to increased discrimination against vulnerable groups and compromise individual dignity.
Sky has also called on the Supreme Court to issue an order preventing the President from assenting to “The Human and Sexual Values Bill, 2024,” as he believes it would directly contravene constitutional rights and freedoms.
The requested Financial Impact Analysis is expected to outline potential economic effects of the bill, providing insights into its alignment with the national budget and social services. With the extension granted, the Attorney General’s Department now has seven additional days to prepare its response to the case.