Accusations of collusion between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and legal practitioner Richard Dela Sky have surfaced following a lawsuit aimed at restraining the President from assenting to the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024. In a statement released by Hon Sam George, key points of concern were raised, shedding light on apparent discrepancies in the President's earlier statements and allegations of a premeditated effort to evade signing the bill into law.
The lawsuit, filed by Richard Dela Sky, seeks a declaration from the Supreme Court that the anti-LGBTQ bill is null, void, and of no effect. Sky argues that the bill's passage violates various constitutional articles, including Article 33(5) of the 1992 Constitution, as well as Articles 12(1) and (2), 15(1), 17(1) and (2), 18(2), and 21(1) (a) (b) (d) and (e). The legal practitioner contends that the bill's provisions raise concerns regarding potential infringements on fundamental human rights and freedoms guaranteed to every Ghanaian by the Constitution.
Additionally, Sky alleges that the Speaker of Parliament contravened Article 108(a)(ii) of the Constitution by allowing the passage of the bill, as it imposes a charge upon the Consolidated Fund or other public funds of Ghana. The bill, which criminalizes LGBTQ activities and their promotion, advocacy, and funding, was passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024.
President Akufo-Addo, in response to the lawsuit, issued a statement on March 4, 2024, suggesting awareness of legal challenges against the bill. However, Hon Sam George's statement claims that Richard Skyy's lawsuit was only filed on March 5, 2024, leading to a potential discrepancy in the President's communication. This has raised questions about the accuracy of the President's earlier statement and fueled suspicions of collusion between the plaintiff and the President to create an avenue for evading the bill's signing.
In light of these allegations, Sam George asserts his unwavering commitment to defending the innocence of Ghanaian children and the preservation of cultural heritage. He vows to resist any attempts by the President and his alleged conspirators to derail the will of the Ghanaian people, expressing confidence that they will be judged unfavourably by posterity.
The lawsuit by Richard Dela Sky seeks not only a declaration of the bill's nullity but also an order restraining President Akufo-Addo from assenting to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024. The legal practitioner further seeks an injunction against the enforcement of specific provisions criminalizing same-sex relationships and related advocacy efforts, pending the Supreme Court's ruling on the matter.