Before going into recess, the House will make sure that the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill (LGBTQI+ bill) is passed, according to Speaker of the House Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
His comments follow Ningo Prampram MP Samuel George’s expression of dissatisfaction over the protracted passage of the anti-gay legislation.
He claimed that the members of the Parliamentary Majority are impeding the bill.
He claimed that the process has been hampered by the influence of some Majority MPs on those who have an interest in seeing LGBT activities promoted across the nation.
Samuel George, the bill’s supporter, told reporters in Parliament that the Majority caucus’ attempts to weaken the legislation would not be tolerated.
As he added his voice to the LGBTQI bill, Alab Bagbin expressed his optimism that it would pass before the House adjourns for the holidays.
He underscored the group’s expectation that the legislation be addressed as soon as possible, stressing that failure to act on it before the recess could have a negative impact on members’ political careers.
“I know that nobody in this House is opposed to the bill and I know the bill will see the light of day before we rise because the people of Ghana are expecting us to pass the bill before we go on recess. Failure to do so will have serious consequences on members as they want to advance in their political careers,” he said.
The rights of LGBTQ+ people are not specifically protected by law in Ghana. Ghana’s Criminal Offenses Act of 1960, Section 104(1)(b), makes same-sex sexual activity illegal.
According to this law, having “unnatural carnal knowledge” is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum three-year jail sentence.
Several religious, cultural, and political groups have opposed the advocacy of LGBTQ+ rights.
There have been incidents of violence, harassment, and arbitrary arrests directed at people who are thought to be LGBTQ+ in recent years.
