The Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, has expressed doubt about the success of Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin's attempt to block the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill.

Parliament, on Thursday, February 8, approved a three-to-five-year jail term for individuals who wilfully promote or sponsor LGBTQ activities, while those caught in the act are to be sentenced to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years.

Afenyo-Markin has raised objections to a provision in the Promotion of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill that could result in the imprisonment of individuals involved in LGBTQ activities.

However, Anyimadu-Antwi, in an interview with Accra-based Asaase Radio on Friday, February 16, stated that he does not anticipate the legislature supporting Afenyo-Markin's stance.

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“Afenyo’s argument to me is very sound; that in this issue we have made it an offence, punish them but you can give them a community service, which we are yet to develop, to me is the best…”he said.

“So I know that Hon. Afenyo-Markin may try, but he will not succeed, he will not have the support because the sponsors of the private member's bill do not want to reason with anybody, and they think that whatever they have proposed must be passed.”

Mr Anyimadu-Antwi added, “We would have to put it to vote and that is why I say, I don’t foresee the House voting in his favour.”

On Thursday, February 15, Mr. Afenyo-Markin intervened to halt the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill, preventing its immediate passage.

His action thwarted the potential approval of the contentious legislation that day.

While Mr. Afenyo-Markin acknowledges his support for the principles outlined in the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, he voiced opposition to a specific provision.

He objected to the clause that could result in the imprisonment of individuals implicated in or advocating for LGBTQ activities.