Advocates of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-gay law, are demonstrating today, Tuesday, October 8, 2024, in Accra to voice their frustrations over the prolonged delays in the bill’s final ratification.

The protest aims to compel the Chief Justice to expedite the hearing of cases before the Supreme Court concerning the bill, which was passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, but has faced significant hurdles since then.

The demonstrators assert that the delay is detrimental to the protection of Ghanaian children’s innocence, as the bill is designed to address concerns related to the LGBTQ+ movement in the country.

Currently, two anti-LGBTQ+ cases are pending before the Supreme Court, which have yet to be scheduled for a hearing. The Registrar of the Supreme Court, Justice Ellen Ofer-Ayeh, explained that the delays have stemmed from the involved parties’ failure to file the necessary legal documents.

Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and a prominent advocate for the law, is leading the initiative to ensure its passage. In an interview with Citi FM, Mr. George condemned the persistent delays. He criticized the legislative process for being undermined by further postponements and argued that the Chief Justice of Ghana could expedite the case if deemed necessary.

“The Chief Justice has the power to demand that all parties involved in the case file their documents within the stipulated time frame,” Mr. George stated, underlining the need for timely legal proceedings. He further noted that the Chief Justice should not allow the parties to determine their own filing schedules. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and the expeditious delivery of justice is critical to an effective justice delivery system,” he stressed.

Watch a video from the demonstration below..

Proponents of the Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-gay bill, are staging a protest today, Tuesday, October 8, 2024 in Accra.

The demonstration is said to compel the Chief Justice to expedite the hearing of cases before the Supreme Court in… pic.twitter.com/Kq9Yv6vZVI

— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) October 8, 2024