Anti-LGBTQ Bill: Citi FM's Richard Sky goes to Supreme Court, wants it declared null and void
Sky, who's also a private legal practitioner asserts that the bill passed by Parliament contravenes various articles of the constitution and thus should be declared null or void.
Richard Sky, a journalist with private media organisation, Citi FM has dragged Parliament and the Attorney-General to the Supreme Court over last week's passage of the ‘Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Value Bill.'
Sky, who's also a private legal practitioner asserts that the bill passed by Parliament contravenes various articles of the constitution and thus should be declared null or void.
“The Plaintiff, a citizen of Ghana brings this action pursuant to Article 2 of the 1992 Constitution, asserting his right to challenge acts deemed unconstitutional,” the application said.
He is thus seeking the following reliefs:
i. A declaration that upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 33 (5) of the Constitution 1992, in light of Articles 12 (1) and (2) 18(2), and 21(1) (a) (b) (d) and (e) of the Constitution, the passage of the bill by Parliament on February 28 2024 contravened the constitution and is to that extent null, void and of no effect.
ii. A declaration that the Speaker of Parliament contravened Article 108 (a) (ii) of the Constitution, in light of Article 296 (a) (b) and © by admitting and allowing Parliament to proceed upon and pass the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024,” into law as the same imposes a charge upon the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana.
iii. A declaration that the Parliament exceeded its authority under Articles 106 (2) and 108 (a) (ii) in passing the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024,” as the same imposes a charge upon the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana.
iv. A declaration that, upon a true and proper interpretation of Articles 102 and 104(1) of the Constitution, Parliament lacked the requisite quorum to pass the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024."
v. An order restraining the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk to Parliament from presenting the “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 to the President for his assent.
vi. An order restraining the President of the Republic from assenting to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 as such action will directly contravene the Constitutional safeguards of liberties and rights of Ghanaians.
vii. An injunction barring any attempts to enforce the provisions of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024 particularly those criminalising same-sex relationships and related advocacy efforts.
