Earlier this year, Ghana's Supreme Court declared the Imposition of Restrictions Act (IRA) 2020 unconstitutional, merely three years after its enactment. This post takes a closer look at the IRA's prior controversies and highlights the key aspects of the Court's decision that substantiated earlier concerns, ultimately leading to the Act’s repeal.

Amidst heated debates over the criminalisation of homosexual relationships, Ghana’s parliament is considering passing a Bill entitled the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values of 2021 (“Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill”). The Bill, if passed into law, will usher Ghana into another wave of criminalising homosexual conduct.

Ghana teaches us important lessons about the special role of African Supreme Courts for the survival of democracies on the continent.