The Supreme Court has struck out a review application challenging its ruling on the constitutionality of Parliament’s passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-gay bill.
The application, filed by journalist and lawyer Richard Dela Sky, was withdrawn by his legal representative, Paa Kwasi Abaidoo, during the hearing on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
However, the bench expressed dissatisfaction with Sky’s absence from the proceedings. Justice Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu questioned the fairness of convening a nine-member panel only for the application to be withdrawn, while Justice Samuel Adibu-Asiedu suggested that Sky, as a lawyer, should have been present.
Chief State Attorney Sylvia Adisu urged the court to impose costs on the applicant, but Justices Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi and Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu opposed the request, citing the public interest nature of the case.
The panel, led by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, ultimately struck out the case but voiced strong disapproval of Sky’s absence.
This follows the Supreme Court’s unanimous dismissal of Sky’s initial petition on December 18, 2024, which challenged the legislative process of the anti-gay bill.
The bill, passed by Parliament on February 28, 2024, seeks to criminalize activities related to LGBTQI+ advocacy and impose penalties on individuals who support such initiatives.
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