Ghana’s Legal Battle for LGBTQ Rights Hits a Setback as Supreme Court Supports Bill

Ghana’s top court rejected two cases challenging the legality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill dealing a further blow to the LGBTQ population in Africa.

The decision opens the door for the president to sign one of the strictest anti-LGBTQ laws on the continent into law. Richard Dela Sky, a lawyer and television journalist and Amanda Odoi, a scholar filed separate petitions against it, and which were dismissed by all seven judges on the Supreme Court panel. Human rights organizations and the UN have denounced the bill which Ghanaian parliament enacted earlier this year.

If it becomes a law, those who identify as LGBT will face three years in prison and those who start or support LGBT organizations will face five years. The Supreme Court challenge’s ruling had caused President Nana Akufo-Addo whose term ends on January 7 to postpone signing it. The courts however ruled that the matter could not be revisited until it was signed into law.

John Mahama, the upcoming president and leader of the opposition has stated his support for the law. Odoi and Sky express their disappointment with the decision and say they will review their options after reading the entire ruling. It will probably encounter more legal hurdles if it is passed into law.