Former MP Dismisses Suit Against Anti-LGBT+ Bill as "Dead on Arrival"

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Alex Abban, the former Member of Parliament for Gomoa West, has labeled Richard Sky's legal challenge against the anti-LGBT+ Bill as "dead on arrival." Abban pointed out that since the Bill has not yet reached the president for assent, it remains within Parliament's purview and can be recalled, rendering the suit ineffective.

Related To This: Finance Ministry's Warning on Anti-LGBT+ Bill Impact on Aid "Hollow" and "Alarmist - NDC Legal Affairs Head

During an appearance on the program Big Issues on Citi TV, Abban expressed skepticism about the viability of the legal action against the controversial Bill. Referring to constitutional procedures, he highlighted the significance of Article 106 in the legislative process, emphasizing the role of presidential assent in transforming a passed Bill into law. Given the current status of the Bill and its pending presidential assent, Abban argued that such legal challenges faced hurdles in the absence of a finalized enactment.


Richard Sky's motion lodged before the Supreme Court on March 5 sought to halt the presidential assent to "The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2024," amidst escalating debates surrounding the legislation nationwide.

Related To This: We’re Prepared to Face ‘Big 18’ in Court - Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Advocates

The motion outlined a series of reliefs grounded on constitutional provisions and fundamental rights, contesting the legality of the Bill's passage through Parliament. It sought declarations nullifying the Bill's enactment for alleged infringements of constitutional articles, procedural irregularities, and constitutional breaches related to funding allocations and parliamentary authority.

A key component of the motion aimed at restraining the Speaker of Parliament and the Clerk of Parliament from presenting the Bill for presidential assent, further advocating for preventive measures to curb potential infringements on individual liberties posed by the Bill's provisions criminalizing same-sex relationships and related advocacy actions.


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