Supreme Court Postpones Decision on Amanda Odoi’s Injunction Against Anti-LGBTQ Bill

Ghana’s Supreme Court has deferred the ruling on Dr. Amanda Odoi’s request to restrain Parliament from transmitting the Anti-LGBTQ Bill until the substantive case is heard and determined. The 5-member panel, chaired by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, postponed the decision on the application for an interlocutory injunction against Parliament’s transmission of the bill to the presidency on Wednesday, July 17. The case has been adjourned indefinitely, reported TV3’s Joseph Ackah-Blay.

A similar conclusion was reached on a separate application filed by broadcast journalist Richard Dela Sky against the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. Sky is challenging the constitutionality of the bill, arguing it violates several provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including Articles 33(5), 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1)(a)(b)(d) and (e). He seeks eight reliefs, including a declaration that the Speaker of Parliament contravened Article 108(a)(ii) by allowing the bill’s passage, which imposes a charge on public funds.

Dr. Odoi is seeking a restraining order to prevent the Speaker, the Attorney-General, and the Clerk of Parliament from sending the bill to President Akufo-Addo for approval. There are currently two lawsuits before the Supreme Court challenging the passage of the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.