Private lawyer Martin Kupebu believes there could be a huge backlash from the international community if the Supreme Court says the anti-gay bill was properly passed and the president should sign it. .
To that end, he asked the public to give the Supreme Court sufficient time to consider the case and make a decision in the country’s interest.
“The truth is, if the Supreme Court were to say that this bill was properly passed and needs to go to the president for his assent, it could cause us a lot of headaches. It’s going to bring us a lot of blame, so they’re going to need ‘time.
“If the Supreme Court says that the anti-gay bill was properly passed and President Akufo-Addo should move forward with signing it, we will be subject to a lot of criticism and criticism.
“So please give the SC time to properly consider and take a decision. The SC is a policy-making court, so if they think this is an issue, they will not deal with it. There are a thousand ways to look at this and say we’re not going to deal with this incident, and there’s not much that can be done,” he said on TV3’s KeyPoints on Saturday, May 11.
Kupev also doubts whether the Supreme Court will finish hearing cases against anti-LGBTQI legislation within seven months.
If the Supreme Court cannot hear the case within seven months, this means the bill will expire at the 8th Congress on January 6, 2025.
“The timeline is very tight, as January 6, 2025 is very close, with only seven months left,” he said.
“Given what it takes to reach a decision in a case like this, I doubt that we will be able to complete this decision in due course, but seven months is a bit harsh. It is likely that it will not be settled and we will be on statutory holiday as July 31st is the end of the statutory year, so the two weeks of August, September, October and November will be part of the statutory holiday. break.
“Given the implications for our future and the future of this country as a whole, we need to move slowly, give the Supreme Court some space, and give them a good understanding so that when the decision comes, it is well received.” I think we should have it debated. We should just tell them that this bill passed properly, so the president should sign it. There is no need for hasty decisions that do not solve the problem either. What is happening now that needs to be finished quickly? ”
The Supreme Court has indefinitely postponed the case against the anti-LGBTQI bill.
The Supreme Court took the view on Wednesday, May 8, that the document submitted by the Speaker of Parliament contained imprudent language. They therefore instructed the Speaker’s attorney to submit new documents.
Prior to adjournment, the court had rejected a preliminary objection by Parliament Speaker Thaddeus Soley’s lawyers in the case against the anti-LGBTQI bill.
During the court’s hearing of the case, which was broadcast live on television, lawyers for broadcast journalist Richard Skye, who filed the lawsuit, asked that one of the injunctive reliefs be modified.
Lawyers for National Assembly Speaker Thaddeus Soli objected.
He argued that his side had already indicated in previous filings that it opposed the remedy, and that granting the amendment would invalidate his objections.
After hearing arguments, the justices of the Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice Gertrude Torcounou, wrote: “In our considered opinion, a preliminary dissent is unnecessary and we will support any proceeding before this court.” It is not intended to be.” All parties have an inherent right to submit to the court appropriate formulations of relief or other process to enable the court to determine the actual matters in dispute. Objection dismissed. ”
The Chief Justice also told the Speaker’s lawyers: “You have wasted our time and energy.”
Ghanaian journalist Richard Della Skye and researcher Dr. Amanda Odoi are scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, to file separate lawsuits challenging the passage of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. be.