By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A High Court sitting in Accra, Ghana’s capital, on Monday dismissed a suit seeking to force the country’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo to sign a tough anti-LGBT bill passed by Parliament in February, saying it will be inappropriate.
The suit to compel the President to sign the controversial bill was filed by MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
The legislation makes the funding of LGBTQ activities illegal. In Ghana, same-sex union among men is already illegal but the bill has included lesbianism as well as marriage to objects.
It also imposes a jail term of up to three years for anyone identifying as LGBT and will intensify a crackdown on the community’s rights.
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s office had last month said he would not make the bill law until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality, a development that has sparked a political row in the West African country.
The presidency however received the backing of Justice Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku of the High Court, ruling that it would be inappropriate to force Mr Akufo-Addo to sign the bill.
The finance ministry has warned that the country could lose at least $3.8bn (£3bn) in World Bank funding if the controversial bill becomes law.
Several legislators and citizens are however pressuring President Akufo-Addo to sign it.
The Bill is facing two pending Supreme Court challenges, a Reuters news agency report says.
The two challenges were filed separately by two Ghanaians – activist Amanda Odoi and lawyer Richard Dela Sky.
They are seeking to block the bill from becoming law.
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After the High Court dismissal, MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor’s lawyer said he would appeal against the ruling.
Heritage Times reports that Ghana is one among the many African countries tightening the grip on LGBTQ which they say corrupts the family morals.
Uganda has also been sanctioned by lending agencies, including World Bank arising from its anti-gay legislation.
In Kenya, Supreme Court had in its ruling last year permitted the registration of a gay right lobby as a non-governmental organisation, stoking demonstrations in country’s capital Nairobi with protesters calling for sack of Supreme Court judges.
The protesters held placards with various inscriptions such as “LGBTQ is not African”, “LGBTQ Agenda must fail” and “A walk for upholding family values”.
In Burundi, President Évariste Ndayishimiye called the bluff of the western nations, saying they “should keep” their aid if it comes with an obligation to promote LGBTQ rights.
President Ndayishimiye, a devout Catholic said homosexuals in his country “should be stoned”.
Using a Bible reference, the Burundi’s leader said God was opposed to homosexuality, adding that it was no longer an issue in Burundi.
