On Friday, December 8, Parliament initiated the proceedings for the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.
The bill, currently undergoing the consideration stage, is slated for refinement to align more closely with the prevailing Ghanaian legal framework.
The advancement of the bill had experienced a prolonged hiatus, causing frustration among its supporters. Allegations were raised by proponents, asserting that certain Members of Parliament had collaborated with pro-LGBT campaigners, intentionally contributing to the delay in its passage.
In a press conference, lead campaigner for the anti-LGBT bill, Sam George, said “Those who have gone and gotten influenced by persons who have an interest in the LGBTQ should return whatever influence they have collected because we will fight, and the next time we address the media, I will mention names.”
In the ongoing consideration of the bill, the Chairman of the Constitution and Legal Affairs Committee is notably absent. This echoes a recent incident earlier in the week when a similar situation resulted in a temporary halt to the bill’s progress.
The Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Lydia Alhassan, clarified that the Committee Chairman, who had proposed amendments to the bill, was unavailable and absent from the parliamentary session due to health reasons. Consequently, the decision was made to postpone the proceedings on the bill during that time.
However, reacting to her statement, Sam George had said, “The excuse given today that the chairman of the committee is not in the chamber so we can’t take the amendments is alien to the practice of this house.”
The Bill which has generated a lot of attention locally and internationally, seeks to curb the acknowledgement and promotion of any rights of LGBTQI+ individuals or group.