Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has stated that the contentious Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, will be reintroduced on the House floor.
He stated that, as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, he will personally contribute to the reintroduction of the LGBTQ+ law.
After being taken off the Order Paper last week, Mr. Bagbin addressed the anti-LGBTQ+ bill issue on Tuesday on the floor of the House in Accra.
He stated that since the bill was no longer relevant due to the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament, it had to be discussed on the House floor.
This action is in response to the Minority Caucus’ increasing demands for increased accountability and openness throughout the bill’s legislative process.
According to Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the minority leader, all legislative revisions must be made public.
When the bill is reintroduced, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, the member of parliament for Damongo, insisted that its form and shape be preserved.
Speaker Bagbin, a strong supporter of the bill, stated that the NDC government and President John Mahama were prepared and dedicated to enacting the bill.
Prior to the dissolution of the Eighth Parliament in 2024, the measure had been approved by Parliament but had not been ratified by the president during the previous NPP administration.
It was formally submitted as a Private Members bill by a bipartisan group of ten members of Parliament, led by John Ntim Fordjour (NPP, Assin South) and Sam George (NDC, Ningo-Prampram).
With a maximum sentence of three years in jail for same-sex acts and a maximum sentence of ten years for advocating or sponsoring LGBTQ+ activities, the bill aims to criminalise LGBTQ+ advocacy, funding, and activities.
MPs from both the Majority and Minority parties are part of the coalition, indicating widespread parliamentary support in spite of criticism from the public and other countries.
The status of the bill, the legislative schedule, and the type of suggested modifications are all areas that the Minority Caucus is requesting clarification on.
They maintained that in order to guarantee democratic accountability, the general public and civil society must be sufficiently informed and participating in the process.
The Minority’s demand for transparency and Speaker Bagbin’s active participation point to a more closely watched and perhaps divisive legislative process in the future.
Ghana’s national discourse will continue to centre on striking a balance between human rights and cultural preservation as it navigates this complicated topic.
Source: newsthemegh.com