A pressure group Arise Ghana and religious leaders, politicians, and activists, are staging a march on the streets of Accra to the Supreme Court over its dissatisfaction with the slow progress of pending anti-LGBTQ+ cases at the court.
The group at the end of its march is expected to present a petition to the Chief Justice or her representative at the premises of the apex court.
The court on it’s part, has denied it had purposely delayed the hearing on the high-profile cases, insisting that the parties involved in the suit were responsible.
Registrar of the Supreme Court, Justice Ellen Ofer-Ayeh said both sides in the case had failed to file the necessary processes.
However, Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency, has expressed frustration over the delay in the passage of the controversial Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill.
Speaking on GHOne TV‘s “State of Affairs” with Lantam Papanko, George pointed fingers at Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, accusing her of stalling the process by failing to deliver a judgment on an injunction petition filed in relation to the bill.
George emphasized that all necessary legal documents and proceedings related to the injunction have been completed, leaving only a judgment to be delivered.
He claimed that the Chief Justice’s inaction is the main reason the bill has not been forwarded to the President for assent, stating, “The reason why the bill hasn’t gone to the president is not because of processes that have not been filed. It’s simply because the Chief Justice has failed to give judgment in the injunction petition.”
He criticized the delay, questioning why the Chief Justice would allow the matter to drag on when Parliament is eager to proceed. According to George, Article 106, clauses 6 and 7 of the 1992 Constitution empower Parliament to transmit the bill once all legal hurdles have been cleared.
The MP went on to criticize the Chief Justice’s leadership, accusing her of negligence by deferring responsibility to the Attorney General.
He expressed disbelief that the Chief Justice is “sitting and waiting for the Attorney General to file documents at his own leisure and pleasure,” calling the situation “unbecoming of someone occupying that high office.”
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
