Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament cited for contempt over Anti-gay bill

Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has been cited for contempt over the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021” also known as LGBTQ+ bill or Anti-gay bill.

3news. com report the Speaker was served the suit on Friday, July 14,

The report said a researcher Dr Amanda Odoi filed a lawsuit at the Supreme Court asking Ghana’s highest court to sanction the Speaker for showing contempt and disregard for court processes relative to the bill.

The suit comes barely two weeks after the second reading and subsequent unanimous passage of the bill by Parliament on July 5 and 7, respectively.

Dr Amanda Odoi, a Feminist |Gender Advocate| Sexuality, Body Image, Gender Based Violence, Adolescent Reproductive Health and Masculinities Researcher opined the Speaker’s action of permitting the second reading was among other things a disrespect to the authority of the court and ought to be sanctioned to protect the dignity of the court.

“That by his conduct in directing or causing Parliament to proceed to a Second Reading of the Bill, in full knowledge of the pending suit and related interlocutory injunction application, the Respondent has disregarded and disrespected the authority of this Court,”a copy of the suit sighted by GhanaPlus.com said.

“That the respondent’s clear, intentional and continuous disregard of the court process necessitates the Respondent being sanctioned for contempt in the public interest and to protect the dignity of the Court,” the Court documents added.

“That such disregard interferes with the outcome of the pending litigation, brings the administration of justice into disrepute and undermines public confidence in the judicial system,” it further reads.

Ghana’s Anti-gay bill

Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 seeks among others a three to five years imprisonment for persons found culpable over LGBTQI+ activities.

The bill put together by some Members of Parliament, members of clergy and many others will also deny LGBTQ+ individuals right to adoption, provide them medical assistance and treatment and protect them against citizens abuse.

Source: 3news.com