Supreme Court Gives Attorney General Seven-Day Extension On Anti-Gay Bill

The Family Values Bill has taken a new turn in court as the Supreme Court, for the umpteenth time, has granted the Attorney General's Department a seven-day extension to file its statement of case. The development is related to the case brought before the Supreme Court by a journalist and private legal practitioner named Richard Dela Sky, who dragged the Speaker of Parliament to court over what he described as a proposed legislation running afoul of the constitution.

The Family Values Bill is supposed to promote certain traditional family values, but the country remains divided on the proposal. Opponents say it's one of the biggest threats to individual rights, in particular to marginalized groups, such as the LGBTQ+. Dela Sky says the bill violates human rights entrenched in the Ghanaian Constitution for equality and freedom from discrimination. 

The State Attorney has asked the Speaker's counsel to file a report on a financial impact analysis with respect to the bill. The analysis is necessary since it may reveal that the possible financial implications of the legislation go against the prioritization in the national budget and social services. 

As the Attorney General's Department prepares its statement over the next week, attention remains on the Supreme Court, as the outcome of this case may set a critical precedent for protection of human rights and protection of values in Ghana.