The Director of Communications for the Bawumia 2024 Campaign Team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has indicated that the government does not oppose the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values (anti-gay) bill, pending the approval of President Akufo-Addo.
Speaking on TV3, he emphasized that the bill is a complex issue and requires thorough assessment to avoid potential future repercussions.
“The law has been passed it’s a law purely passed based on consensus, largely by everybody across the political divide. On the floor of the house there was a complete consensus on the passage of the law, there were members of parliaments raised issues of amendments in the law and these amendments were either carried or thrown away, but in principle nobody from the NPP or the NDC side has been against the passage of the anti-LGBTQ law and that is a fact and the law has been approved by parliament,” he stated.
Mr Aboagye explained that one of the procedural steps for signing the bill involves President Akufo-Addo raising concerns, which must be addressed by Parliament before the bill can become law.
He further noted that the process concludes when any amendments and embedded sanctions in the bill are unanimously accepted by both Parliament and the President.
“It has to be transmitted to the president for the president to assent to it or otherwise or raise concerns don’t forget when it is transmitted to the president it is not only assenting to the law but the president can communicate back to parliament on areas of concern.
“It’s not as if the whole process ends at the point where parliament transmits to the president and the only thing left is for the president to assent. The president under the law is mandated to look at it and then areas of concern he can write to parliament and say that I have received the law but I think that you should look at ABCD and parliament also under the same law can look at the issues raised by the president,” he added.
Parliament passed the anti-LGBTQ bill on Wednesday, February 28, 2024.
Once enacted into law, it will criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) activities, as well as their promotion, advocacy, and funding in Ghana.
However, President Akufo-Addo clarified on Monday, March 4, that the anti-LGBTQI bill has not yet reached his office.
Despite concerns within diplomatic circles, he assured that the bipartisan approval of the bill by Parliament will not compromise Ghana’s human rights record.
Addressing anxieties about any potential shift in Ghana’s stance on human rights and the rule of law, President Akufo-Addo emphasized his commitment to upholding these principles.
While refraining from discussing the bill’s origin, pending on his desk, he acknowledged a constitutional challenge filed at the Supreme Court regarding the proposed legislation.
The President urged patience, suggesting that everyone await the court’s decision before taking any action.
He underscored the importance of Ghanaian state institutions in shaping the future trajectory of rule of law and human rights compliance in the country.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye argues why the NPP government is not against the anti-lgbtq+ bill.#TheKeyPoints pic.twitter.com/JlOk8RuJ17
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) March 23, 2024