The high court in Ghana’s capital, Accra, has dismissed a bid to force the president to sign a tough anti-LGBT bill passed by parliament in February.
The bill imposes a jail term of up to three years for anyone identifying as LGBT and will intensify a crackdown on the community’s rights.
Last month, President Nana Akufo-Addo’s office said he would not make the bill law until the Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality, sparking a political row in the West African country.
The finance ministry has warned that the country could lose at least $3.8bn (£3bn) in World Bank funding if the controversial bill becomes law.
But several legislators and citizens are pressuring President Akufo-Addo to sign it.
On Monday, Justice Ellen Lordina Serwaa Mireku backed the presidency’s argument in the High Court, ruling that it would be inappropriate to force Mr Akufo-Addo to sign the bill.
The proposed law faces two pending Supreme Court challenges, Reuters news agency reported.
The two challenges were filed separately by two Ghanaians – activist Amanda Odoi and lawyer Richard Dela Sky.
They are seeking to block the bill from becoming law.
The motion to compel Mr Akufo-Addo to sign the controversial bill was filed by MP Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
His lawyer said he would appeal against the ruling, local media reported.