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Ghana's Top Court Rejects Bid to Block Anti-LGBTQ Bill

© Photo Official Website of the Judiciary of GhanaThe wreath-laying ceremony at the Martyrs’ Square, situated in front of the Supreme Court Building.
The wreath-laying ceremony at the Martyrs’ Square, situated in front of the Supreme Court Building. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 20.07.2023
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The ruling cleared the way for a bill aimed at "providing for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values", which must pass the final stage of parliamentary approval before it can be signed into law.
Ghana's Supreme Court has rejected an injunction application which sought to stop the Speaker of Parliament from allowing the anti-LGBTQ bill to proceed in the legislative body, local media said.
In a unanimous decision, the top court's nine-member panel, chaired by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, ruled that the applicant had failed to convince the court that an injunction should be granted.
The court made this ruling in a case brought by a researcher, Dr. Amanda Odoi, who alleged that Parliament's work on the proposed law was unconstitutional.
The Ghanaian Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill was proposed by 8 members of Ghana's Parliament in June 2021 and passed its first reading by the legislature in August that year.
On July 5, 2023, the Ghanaian Parliament voted unanimously to pass the bill during the second reading with minor amendments.

The bill, according to the text of the document, focuses on protecting family values, prohibiting LGBTQ+ and related activities, banning the propaganda of homosexual relations and ensuring the protection and support of children.

The punishment includes jail sentences of up to 10 years for advocating LGBTQ rights and up to 3 years behind bars for engaging in same-sex intercourse.
Ugandan MP John Musila wears clothes with an anti-LGBTQ message as he enters the Parliament to vote on a new anti-gay bill, on March 21, 2023. - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 03.06.2023
Sub-Saharan Africa
'A Popular Law': Author of Uganda's Anti-LGBTQ Law Explains It to Sputnik

Guarding African Family Values

The Ghana court's decision mirrors the African continent's drive to get tough on LGBT propaganda, while strengthening the protection of family traditional values.
In late May, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law after parliamentary approval.
The purpose of the bill, according to Asuman Basalirwa, who introduced it, is to protect Ugandan culture, as well as their religious and family values, "from acts that are likely to promote sexual promiscuity in this country."
The passage of this law triggered a wave of condemnation from the West and US threats to cut financial aid to the East African country, which the Ugandan authorities denounced as "blackmail."
In the same vein, on Wednesday, Namibian MPs endorsed legislation to ban same-sex marriage and punish its supporters. The bill seeks to overturn a Supreme Court ruling that allowed the recognition of same-sex marriages performed overseas.
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