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Samuel Nartey George, a leading advocate for the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, has announced that there was significant support among Members of Parliament for the bill’s approval.
Speaking to reporters after the bill was passed in parliament in Accra, the Ningo-Prampram MP expressed gratitude, stating, “We want to thank Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, who played a pivotal role in passing this bill.”
He highlighted the unity within the house, saying, “The overwhelming majority from both sides of the aisle have endorsed this bill.”
Sam George called on the President to sign the bill into law, emphasizing the widespread support it received within the legislative body.
Prior to the bill’s passage, sponsors of the Bill filed a motion for further consideration.
Sam George proposed that clauses 10 and 11 of the anti-LGBT bill, which deal with editorial policies of media firms, be subjected to article 12 of the 1992 constitution, which provides for freedom of the media.
The House approved the amendments as part of the bill.
However, the Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, filed a motion for clause 12 of the bill, which deals with the funding of LGBT activities, to be subjected to the constitution, but this was rejected by the House.
The passage of the Bill by Parliament comes after the Board Chair of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, called on President Akufo-Addo to reject the Bill.
Prof. Gadzekpo argued that the bill undermines fundamental human rights protected by the Constitution, including the rights to dignity, freedom of speech and association, procession participation, academic freedom, equality, and non-discrimination.
She emphasized that upholding rights and freedoms is crucial to constitutional democracy and warned that altering these rights could jeopardize Ghana’s democratic principles, highlighting the significance of the issue for all citizens.
The Bill now requires presidential assent to become law. President Nana Akufo-Addo has not confirmed whether he will sign it into law.
The United Nations stated in 2021 that the proposed law, Human Sexual Rights and Family Values, would create “a system of state-sponsored discrimination and violence” against sexual minorities.
In May 2023, Uganda enacted one of the world’s toughest anti-LGBT laws, including the death penalty for “aggravated homosexuality,” leading to a wave of abuse, and the World Bank suspended new funding to the country.
