Petition against anti LGBTQ law: Dr. Amanda Odoi, a professor and researcher from the University of Cape Coast, questioned the legitimacy of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Law, which seeks to prohibit LGBTQ behavior and any activities that support it in the nation.
Petition against anti LGBTQ law rejected
Dr. Odoi had charged Bagbin of disregarding ongoing legal proceedings and enabling the consideration of the proposed law to proceed, which she said was against the 1992 Constitution.
The plaintiff consequently asked the Supreme Court to rule that the Speaker of Parliament’s action breaches Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution and to issue a restraining order against the Speaker or his deputies from doing so.
The Supreme Court has rejected the request for an injunction that tried to prevent the Speaker of Parliament from approving the measure that explicitly prohibits LGBTQ people.
Some panel members of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, the Chief Justice, concluded that the petitioner had not succeeded in persuading the court to grant the order.
Judge Torkornoo stated after reading the court’s ruling that the court was not persuaded to impose an order on a piece of unfinished legislation by Parliament, especially when the substantive argument opposing the bill would resolve the applicant’s concerns.
Contempt Application Withdrawn
Dr. Amanda Odoi’s attorneys withdrew the request for contempt against the Speaker as a result of the court rejecting their client’s request for an injunction.
As a result of Alban Bagbin’s decision to permit Parliament to continue hearing the bill in spite of the injunction application, Dr. Odoi requested that the court issue a contempt citation against him.
The court dismissed the violation petition when it was withdrawn.
