LGBTQ members must be punished via community service, not prison – MP seconds Afenyo-Markin

The Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, has lend his support to the objection to a specific provision in the anti-LGBTQ bill that could lead to the imprisonment of LGBTQ individuals.

Parliament recently approved a provision in the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill that would impose a three-to-five-year jail term for those promoting or sponsoring LGBTQ activities. Individuals caught engaging in such activities could face a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years in prison.

Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s put in efforts to halt the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill who has insisted that jail time will not be the solution to preserving Ghana’s family values.

However, Anyimadu-Antwi, speaking with Accra-based Asaase Radio on Friday, February 16, expressed doubt that the legislature would support Afenyo-Markin’s position.

He acknowledged the need for a less severe punishment for LGBTQ members, suggesting community service as a more appropriate alternative.

“Afenyo’s argument to me is very sound; that in this issue we have made it an offence, punish them but you can give them a community service, which we are yet to develop, to me is the best…”he said.

“So I know that Hon. Afenyo-Markin may try, but he will not succeed, he will not have the support because the sponsors of the private member’s bill do not want to reason with anybody, and they think that whatever they have proposed must be passed.”

Mr Anyimadu-Antwi added, “We would have to put it to vote and that is why I say, I don’t foresee the House voting in his favour.”

Mr. Afenyo-Markin’s intervention on Thursday, February 15, successfully halted the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill, preventing its immediate passage and approval. While he expressed support for the principles outlined in the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, he specifically objected to a clause that could lead to the imprisonment of individuals involved in or promoting LGBTQ activities.