Advocate for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed substantial support among Members of Parliament for the anti-LGBTQI legislation.
The Ningo-Prampram MP thanked Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu for his pivotal role in the bill’s passage, emphasizing overwhelming bipartisan backing within the house.
Addressing reporters in Accra after the bill’s approval, Sam George urged the President to grant assent, highlighting the widespread legislative support.
Amendments were made, including Sam George’s proposal to subject clauses 10 and 11 to media freedom provisions in the constitution, which the House approved.
However, a motion by Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin to subject clause 12, dealing with LGBT activities’ funding, to the constitution was negated. Despite the Board Chair of CDD-Ghana, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, calling on President Akufo-Addo to reject the bill, Parliament passed it.
Professor Gadzekpo argued that the legislation undermines fundamental human rights, warning of potential threats to Ghana’s democratic principles.
The bill now awaits presidential assent, with uncertainty about President Nana Akufo-Addo’s stance.
The United Nations warned in 2021 that the proposed law could lead to state-sponsored discrimination and violence against sexual minorities. Uganda’s similar law in 2023, including the death penalty, faced global criticism and funding suspension by the World Bank.