The 275 members of Parliament have unanimously agreed to pass the anti-LGBTQ Bill that is presently before the chamber.
Since the text’s debut in 2021, there have been months of public discussion and approval of the agreement by lawmakers and other parties to the passage of the anti-LGBTQ Bill
The contested legislation has already been the target of several legal challenges; the most recent case was just made public on Tuesday, July 4, 2023.
The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 was laid before the deliberation stage and was approved by Speaker Alban Bagbin, who noted that no legislator is opposed to its approval.
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“With the submissions just made by the Honorable Andy Appiah Kubi that all the 275 are in support of the bill, anybody who disagrees is on your feet and I will recognize you.
“Honorable members, since all members are in support of the bill, I am definitely not going to gag the House. I will give you the opportunity to expand and improve further the submissions made so that at the consideration stage, it will be enriched by your contributions.
“But I just want us to be clear that none is against the bill,” he stressed.
Speaker Alban Bagbin added that “In view of the numbers, I am tempted to give some time limits for the debates so that we can give the opportunity to everybody to make a contribution. At the end of the day, your report is already in the public domain.”
Meanwhile, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has recommended that the House passes the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021.
According to the Committee, the majority of Ghanaians are in favor of the legislation.
While admitting that the bill had “significant human rights concerns”, the Committee informed the House that it petitioned the Attorney-General for its opinion.
The 18-page document which was signed by the Committee’s Chairperson, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, had been subjected to the amendments proffered by the Committee. Mr. Anyimadu-Antwi indicated that the decision was reached after considering the advice of the Attorney General.
Background
The controversial LGBT bill is a private member’s bill that was presented to Speaker Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. It is being spearheaded by 8 MPs.
The proponents want the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality to be criminalized in the country.
Although the Bill is in Parliament, the LGBTQ+ conversation was reignited during US Vice President, Kamala Harris’ visit to Ghana.
Madam Harris, addressing the gathering said, “I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting the fighting for equality among all people, and that all people be treated equally.
“I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change.”
Even though she did not directly address the bill in Ghana’s Parliament, a section of Ghanaians took offense and responded to her.
Notable among those who responded to her was Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, who described her comments as undemocratic and “should not be tolerated.”
