Source: newsthemegh.com
On Thursday, February 15, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader, suspended the third reading of the Ghanaian Family Values and Promotion of Proper Sexual Rights law, also known as the anti-gay law.
He expressed reservations about the Bill’s provision for the incarceration of people based only on their sexual orientation and urged the House to give the matter another look so he could propose changes to the jail sentence.
The bill suggests a three-to five-year prison sentence for LGBTQ campaigners and promoters, and a six-month to three-year prison term for individuals caught in the act.
Afenyo-Markin, who was under Standing Order 1711, pushed for changes that would have substituted community service for jail time.
Afenyo-Markin stated that punishing people for their sexual orientation with jail sentences could damage rather than uphold Ghanaian family values and human sexual rights, even though she supported the bill’s general goals.
“Jailing someone for their sexual orientation is not the way to uphold Ghanaian family values and guarantee appropriate human sexual rights,” he declared.
The anti-gay Bill would have been enacted by Parliament upon its third reading and thereafter referred to the President for ratification.
The government is about to introduce a Community Sentencing Bill, which seeks to provide non-custodial penalties as an alternative to incarceration, according to the Deputy Majority Leader. He asked the House to take this strategy into account by adding community service alternatives to the anti-gay measure.
He claimed that this action will result in a more sympathetic and efficient legal system.
The Deputy Majority Leader revealed that a Community Sentencing Bill, intended to provide non-custodial penalties as an alternative to incarceration, is about to be introduced by the government. He asked that the anti-gay measure be amended to include community service opportunities, and that the House take this approach into consideration.
This action will result in a more humane and efficient legal system, he claimed.
After his move for a second consideration stage was approved, the deputy leader proceeded to offer thirteen modifications.