Full Text: Petition presented to CJ by protesters against delayed hearing of anti-gay cases

The Chief Justice Supreme Court of Ghana
Tuesday 8th October 2024
Her Ladyship Chief Justice Getrude Torkonoo,

PETITION FOR EXPEDITED HEARINGS OF CASES RELATING TO THE PRO- FAMILY VALUES BILL

We refer to the Supreme Court ruling of Wednesday 17th July, where a five (5) member panel deferred ruling on two cases brought before it and where you stated that you would incorporate your ruling on these cases into your final judgement.

In your statement, the Supreme Court made reference to having an “early trial” assuring us that it would work expeditiously to hear and rule on these matters in a timely manner.

Unfortunately, over ten (10) weeks later, there is no indication of any schedule or actions to execute an early trial that will protect our rights as citizens to timely and efficient justice delivery, in this instance.

Without speedy scheduling of the hearings, further time will be lost, potentially preventing the conclusion of the bill this year and further risking three (3) years of time and resource investments in this draft bill and precipitating the need for more time and investments if this bill is to see the light of day.

This would result in further significant financial costs to all stakeholders including citizens and the state. Overall, such an outcome would undermine the legitimate hopes and aspirations of over ninety percent (90%) of Ghanaians to obtaining justice in this matter.

We are mindful of the extraordinary discretionary powers bestowed on you and Judges in general, which have been exercised for example during election petition hearings. Specifically, where the CJ has provided explicit instructions to lawyers to do their filings strictly within specific time frames for hearings to be completed in time.

This position is further buttressed by the Attorney General Godfred Dame’s comments to the Judiciary just last week, that one month or four weeks is “reasonable” time for all the outstanding 140 galamsey cases to be dispensed with, if the Judges were to act expeditiously. This is just one (1) case, of immense national interest and yet we have crossed ten (10) weeks and we are still counting.

Consequently, the proponents of the Pro-Family Values bill together with the National Coalition for Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, Advocates for Christ Ghana, The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, The Methodist Church of Ghana, The Catholic Church, The Assemblies of God Church, The Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Perez Chapel International, Royal House Chapel International, Traditional Rulers and Traditionalists, the Muslim Ummah in Ghana, and all other Christian ecumenical bodies and groups across the nation, petition you as follows:

1. To please schedule hearings for the two (2) afore-mentioned cases immediately as a matter of urgency, within the next 2 weeks, so that the cases can be determined.

2. To take steps to ensure that the rulings on these cases are readily available to feed into the completion of the national legislative processes on the Pro-Family Values bill this year.

3. To kindly provide directions for a long-term solution that ensures timely and effective access to justice for all citizens, even during judicial breaks or vacations.

On behalf of the over ninety percent of Ghanaians (93% – according to CDD, 2021) who want our religious, cultural and social norms preserved and critically who expect that our children will be protected from western neo-colonialist notions and especially LGBTQI practices that have been shown to have immense negative impacts on the health and well-being of human beings, we submit this petition for your urgent action, knowing that as a mother, a Christian, a preacher, and a Judge, you would fully appreciate and understand the grave implications of not acting timeously on this matter. Article 1(1) of our 1992 constitution refers – “The Sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised…”

God bless you, God bless our homeland Ghana, and God bless us all!

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