Some Christian and Moslem religious leaders are in Parliament to witness the second laying of the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2022”.

Last week Friday, the House rescheduled the laying of the private member’s Bill to this week due to the absence of Sam George, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram and Lead Sponsor of the Private Members’ Bill, and Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Asante Akim Central.

According to Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Majority Leader and Leader of Government Business in Parliament, the rescheduling became necessary because both Mr George and Mr Anyimadu-Antwi were then outside the country on a national assignment.

However, both men have since returned to the country.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has recommended that the House pass the controversial Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.

According to the Committee, a majority of Ghanaians are in favour of the legislation.

While admitting that the bill had “significant human rights concerns”, the Committee informed the House that it petitioned the Attorney-General for its opinion.

The 18-page document which was signed by the Committee’s Chairperson, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi had been subjected to the amendments proffered by the Committee.

Mr Anyimadu-Antwi indicated that the decision was reached after considering the advice of the Attorney General.

Background

The controversial LGBT bill is a private member bill that was presented to Speaker Alban Bagbin on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.

The proponents want the promotion, advocacy, funding, and acts of homosexuality to be criminalised in the country.

Although the Bill is in Parliament, the LGBTQ+ topic surfaced into the limelight again during US Vice President, Kamala Harris’ visit to Ghana.

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Madam Harris, addressing the gathering said, “I feel very strongly about the importance of supporting freedom and supporting the fighting for equality among all people, and that all people be treated equally.

Speaker slams Kamala Harris’ take on LGBTQ+ in Ghana, calls out Akufo-Addo

“I will also say that this is an issue that we consider, and I consider to be a human rights issue, and that will not change.”

Even though she did not directly address the bill in Ghana’s Parliament, a section of Ghanaians took offense to her answer.

Notable people including, the Speaker of Parliament described her comments as undemocratic and “should not be tolerated.”