In a surprising turn of events, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, was conspicuously absent during the crucial consideration stage of the anti-gay bill.
Although Anyimadu-Antwi had been present in the House on Friday, December 8, 2023, his absence during this pivotal moment prompted Ranking Member Bernard Ahiafor to step in and guide the House through the bill’s amendment stage.
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Originally scheduled for consideration on Wednesday, the bill faced initial hurdles when concerns were raised by First Deputy Speaker Joe Osei-Owusu and the Majority leadership about the Committee Chairman’s absence. This led to frustration among the bill’s sponsors, who accused the Majority leadership of hindering its progress.
In response to the setback, lead sponsor Samuel Nartey George, MP for Ningo Prampram, went so far as to threaten to expose NPP MPs allegedly influenced by LGBTQ+ advocates in the country.
Despite these challenges, Speaker Alban S.K. Bagbin assured the House on Thursday that the bill would be enacted before the festive season recess. However, when the consideration stage was announced on Friday, the Committee Chairman was notably absent, raising eyebrows given the previous listing in the Order of Paper.
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Speaker Alban Bagbin maintained that the House could proceed with the bill’s consideration despite the Committee Chairman’s absence, and indeed, it did. The session addressed Clause 1, involving five of the 17 proposed amendments.
The bill’s objective, as outlined in the accompanying memorandum, is to establish proper human sexual rights and uphold Ghanaian family values. It aims to prohibit LGBTQ+ and related activities, as well as the promotion or advocacy for such matters.
Additionally, the bill seeks to ensure the protection and support of individuals, particularly children, associated with LGBTQ+ matters.
As the anti-gay bill progresses through legislative proceedings, the absence of the Committee Chairman during this critical phase adds a layer of intrigue to the ongoing debate surrounding this contentious piece of legislation.
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