The Supreme Court has set a hearing date for an application filed by broadcast journalist and private legal practitioner Richard Dela Sky. The court will hear the case on Wednesday, July 3, where Sky challenges the constitutionality of the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.
Richard Sky contends that the bill, passed by Parliament, breaches several provisions of the 1992 Constitution and violates the fundamental human rights guaranteed by the country’s laws. He is seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that the bill is unconstitutional.
The notice of the hearing, dated June 14, 2024, was issued by the Supreme Court’s registrar, Her Honour Ellen Ofei-Ayeh. The notice has been addressed to Richard Sky, his legal representative Cudjoe Arthur Chambers, the Speaker of Parliament, the Speaker’s lawyer Thaddeus Sory, and the Attorney General.
“Take notice that the above-mentioned case has been fixed for Wednesday the 3rd day of July 2024 at 9:30 am for hearing. If the case is called and you do not appear to answer, the Court will proceed to hear same without you,” the hearing notice read.
Mr Sky’s case is one of four cases filed at the Supreme Court and the High Court against the passage of the anti-gay bill.
The Judicial Service on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, granted permission to the media to cover live all court proceedings concerning the controversial “Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2024,” also known as the “Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.”
A communiqué issued by the Judicial Service confirmed that the media (including radio and television) will have “full access to the relevant courts to undertake a coverage of all proceedings in those cases concerning the Bill.”
The move comes in response to the widespread public interest surrounding the legislation.
