Ghana Court Rejects Suit Seeking To Compel President to Sign Anti-Gay Bill
The high court in Ghana capital, Accra, has dismissed a bid to compel the president to sign a controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by parliament in February.
President Nana Akufo-Addo‘s office said last month that he would not assent to the bill until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality, sparking a political row in the West African country.
Justice Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku backed the presidency’s argument, ruling on Monday that it would be inappropriate to force Mr. Akufo-Addo to sign the bill yet it still faces two pending supreme court challenges, seeking to block the anti-LGBTQ+ bill from becoming law.
The bill imposes a jail term of up to three years for anyone identifying as LGBTQ+ and five years for promoting their activities.
The motion to compel Mr. Akufo-Addo to sign the controversial bill had been filed by Mr. Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
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The bill has fueled political divisions in Ghana, with the finance ministry warning that the country could lose at least $3.8bn in World Bank funding if it becomes law.
But several legislators and citizens are pressuring President Akufo-Addo to sign it.
