The progression of the suits against the Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-gay bill, is experiencing yet another delay following the recent hearing on Thursday, October 31.
During the previous session, the court had instructed the lawyers for both the Attorney-General and the Speaker of Parliament to submit their necessary documents to facilitate the quick adjudication of the case.
However, when the case was called, Chief State Attorney Sylvia Adusu informed the court that the required documents from the Speaker’s legal team were still outstanding, impeding their ability to proceed as planned.
In light of this setback, Sylvia Adusu requested an extension of time to file the statement of case, expressing concern that further delays would only prolong the proceedings.
She emphasized that the delay was not due to a lack of respect for the court, but rather a necessary wait for essential documents that were crucial to their arguments.
“We were waiting for certain documents because counsel for Parliament during a hearing in July had told the court that his attention had been drawn that the Speaker’s opinion was available,” she explained.
Justice Asare Darko granted the request for an extension, instructing the lawyers to submit their statements of case within the next seven days.
Similar concerns were echoed in the case involving researcher Dr. Amanda Odoi, leading to the same directives for the Attorney-General’s team.
While broadcast journalist Richard Dela Sky challenges the constitutionality of the Ghanaian Family Values Bill, Dr. Odoi seeks an injunction to prevent the bill from reaching President Akufo-Addo for assent, adding another layer of complexity to this critical legal battle.
