Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has blocked the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill, preventing its passage today.
Despite this action, Mr. Afenyo-Markin clarified that he is not entirely against the principles of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill and actually supports it.
“The essence of this motion is to afford this august house the opportunity to thoroughly consider amendments that are proposed in the bill with the view of substituting community service for incarceration,” he said.
According to him, the punitive actions outlined in the bill would not facilitate the rehabilitation of the individuals involved.
“The issue before us is behavioral, and it is my humble view that in dealing with behavioural matters, incarceration is not the solution. It makes the matter worse.”
“To jail a person for his/her sexuality will not be the solution in maintaining our Ghanaian family values and ensuring proper human sexual rights,” he added.
Meanwhile, one of the sponsors of the bill, Sam George, indicated that Mr. Markin’s argument does not hold water.