By: Ashiadey Dotse
Broadcast journalist and lawyer Richard Dela Sky has dropped his legal case against the anti-LGBTQ Bill at the Supreme Court.
Mr. Sky had challenged the bill’s legality, arguing that it violated several constitutional rights.
After the court dismissed his case on December 18, he filed for a judicial review. However, on Wednesday, February 26, his lawyers, led by Paa Kwasi Abaidoo, informed the court that they had decided to withdraw the case.
“We decided to let sleeping dogs lie, so we filed a notice of discontinuation,” Mr. Abaidoo told the nine-member panel of justices.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney, Sylvia Adusu, did not oppose the withdrawal. “We were prepared to deal with it, but if he has discontinued, we have no objection,” she said.
Despite allowing the withdrawal, the Supreme Court criticized Mr. Sky for not attending the hearing, stating that as a lawyer, he should have known that his presence was required.
In an interview with TV3, Mr. Sky’s lawyer explained that they withdrew the case because there is currently no anti-LGBTQ Bill before the President. He added that the bill is now being reintroduced by the Executive, which makes their legal challenge irrelevant.
Previously, Mr. Sky had argued that the bill violated several provisions of the 1992 Constitution. His case was dismissed alongside another suit by human rights advocate Dr. Amanda Odoi, who also sought to prevent the bill’s passage.
