Broadcast journalist and private legal practitioner, Richard Dela Sky, has officially withdrawn his case challenging the Anti-LGBTQ Bill at the Supreme Court.
His legal team, led by Paa Kwasi Abaidoo, informed a nine-member panel of justices on Wednesday, February 26, that they had filed a notice of discontinuation and would no longer pursue the case.
“We decided to let the sleeping dogs lie in this matter,” Abaidoo stated.
Chief State Attorney Sylvia Adusu, representing the prosecution, did not oppose the decision, noting, “We were prepared to deal with it, but if he has discontinued, we have no objection.”
The Supreme Court subsequently struck out the case but not without criticism.
The justices reprimanded Richard Dela Sky for failing to appear in court despite being a lawyer and knowing that his presence was required, even after withdrawing the case.
“We take a strong objection to the absence of the applicant in court. The applicant being a lawyer should have known that in spite of discontinuation, he ought to be in court. Application struck out,” the panel ruled.
Sky’s legal challenge had initially contested the legality of the bill, arguing that it violated multiple provisions of the 1992 Constitution, including fundamental human rights clauses.
Explaining the reason for the withdrawal, Sky’s counsel stated that the case had become moot since the newly elected President had reintroduced the bill as an executive motion rather than a private member’s bill.
The Supreme Court had previously dismissed both Sky’s case and a similar suit filed by human rights advocate Dr. Amanda Odoi on December 18, 2024.
Both lawsuits sought to challenge the bill’s legality and prevent its implementation, arguing that it imposed unconstitutional restrictions. With the withdrawal of Sky’s case, the legal battles surrounding the controversial bill may have reached a critical turning point.
