Ablekuma West MP, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and Tamale Central MP, Murtala Mohammed on Wednesday engaged in a heated exchange of words when Parliament sat to resume discussions on the Promotion of Proper Sexual Human Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, popularly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill.
While Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor of the South Dayi constituency in his speech was entreating the House to swiftly approve the bill, there was a brief interruption as the microphones picked up a whisper.
“LGBTQ practitioner”, an MP voiced out.
The Second Deputy Speaker, Andrew Asiamah, who was in the chair, called out Tamale Central MP, Murtala Mohammed to withdraw an unparliamentary comment passed.
The MP denied making such comment, asking the Speaker to clarify the specific statement passed.
Amidst the denial, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful accused Mr Murtala Mohammed of making such pronouncement against her.
She burst out and called out all other legislators who she believes heard the comment but turned deaf ears to it.
Mr Owusu-Ekuful then flared up at Mr Murtala describing him as a “mad man”.
“I sat here and repeatedly heard Hon Murtala refer to me as a practitioner of LGBT to the hearing of everyone in this house… and in response to that if I say he is mad, it is only a mad man who will refer to his colleague in this house as a practitioner of LGBTQ,” she said.
She also asked the Tamale Central MP whether he had “seen me having sexual intercourse with your wife or your daughter or your mother.”
At the request of the Second Deputy Speaker, both individuals retracted their comments, and the proceedings continued without further disruption.
Ultimately, all Members of Parliament (MPs) unanimously agreed to support the recommendation of the report, leading to the passage of the bill.
This significant outcome follows several months of intense public debate and thorough scrutiny by legislators and other stakeholders since its introduction in 2021.
Despite facing numerous legal challenges, including the most recent lawsuit announced on Tuesday, July 4, 2023, the controversial bill has successfully progressed through the required stages.
Emphasizing the widespread support for the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, Speaker Alban Bagbin affirmed that no legislator expressed opposition to its passage.