A Ghanaian high court has rejected a legal challenge aimed at compelling President Nana Akufo-Addo to promptly address an anti-LGBTQ bill recently passed by parliament.
The decision, handed down on Monday, underscores a legal impasse surrounding the legislation, which seeks to further restrict LGBTQ rights in the country.
Despite unanimous parliamentary approval, the bill has encountered resistance from the presidency, which has opted not to present it to the president for final approval.
The stance, citing ongoing legal challenges, has drawn criticism from lawmakers.
Opposition member Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor contested this delay in court, but his challenge was dismissed by Justice Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku. The court deemed it inappropriate to compel action on a bill facing unresolved legal disputes in the Supreme Court.
Dafeamekpor’s legal representative has announced intentions to appeal the ruling.
Currently, Ghana penalizes gay sex with up to three years’ imprisonment. If enacted, the anti-LGBTQ bill would extend this sentence and further curtail the rights of LGBTQ individuals and those perceived as advocating for their cause.
Despite warnings from the finance ministry regarding potential economic repercussions, proponents of the bill remain steadfast in their push for its enactment.
Concerns have been raised over possible adverse effects on World Bank financing and an IMF loan package intended to aid Ghana’s economic recovery.
The World Bank previously suspended funding to Uganda following the enactment of stringent anti-LGBTQ legislation in 2023.
