Audio By Carbonatix
A member of Parliament's Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, has said that the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 in its current form, will lead to so many unintended consequences.
According to her, attitudes such as laziness, untruthfulness, and indiscipline may as well be criminalized in the future because of the Bill.
Speaking to JoyNews' Kwesi Parker-Wilson, the lawmaker said that "when crafting legislation, every word has a meaning."
She said that proposed laws are to be crafted "in conformity with our laws, existing legislation, the constitution and international conventions and obligations that we have signed up to."
"Some of our concerns with some unintended consequences of the Bill is that when you look at the definition of Ghana Family Values, and the criminalization of those who don't promote or support or act in conformity with those defined family values, there are many unintended consequences. Some of these may be the criminalization of untruthfulness, lack of compassion, laziness or indiscipline, or not exhibiting good neighborliness," she said on Monday when the Committee resumed its public hearing of memoranda it had received over the Bill.
The Bill, if passed in its current state, will criminalise Lesbianism, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and their related activities.
Although the Bill has been tagged as one that will discriminate against persons of the LGBTQ+ community, its proponents have insisted that the practice is non-Ghanaian.
The Bill has received the backing of several groups, including the religious society.
However, the Ghana AIDS Commission has warned that the country's fight against the deadly virus will suffer should Parliament pass the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 in its current state.
According to the Commission’s Director-General, Kyeremeh Atuahene, the Bill in its current state will force donors to withdraw critical funding for the management of the infection.
Latest Stories
-
COPEC calls for continued investment to ensure TOR’s sustainability
12 minutes -
Tyler Perry sued by another aspiring actor alleging sexual assault and seeking $77m in damages
28 minutes -
Canadian national and Ghanaian boyfriend arrested for alleged arson at Oyarifa
1 hour -
Police take over Gomoa Nyanyano after two factions clash in chieftaincy dispute
1 hour -
Alavanyo Paramount Queen backs Asantehene in opposition to inclusion of Queenmothers in Houses of Chiefs
2 hours -
OSP’s preventive actions saved Ghana millions – Sammy Darko
2 hours -
Galamsey cuts off cocoa farms in Mfantseman, farmers suffer heavy losses
3 hours -
Ghanaian delegation set for January 20, 2026 trip to Latvia in Nana Agyei case – Ablakwa
4 hours -
Accra turns white as Dîner en Blanc delivers night of elegance and culture
6 hours -
War-torn Myanmar voting in widely criticised ‘sham’ election
8 hours -
Justice by guesswork is dangerous – Constitution Review Chair calls for data-driven court reforms
8 hours -
Justice delayed is justice denied, the system is failing litigants – Constitution Review Chair
9 hours -
Reform without data is a gamble – Constitution Review Chair warns against rushing Supreme Court changes
9 hours -
Rich and voiceless: How Putin has kept Russia’s billionaires on side in the war against Ukraine
10 hours -
Cruise ship hits reef on first trip since leaving passenger on island
10 hours
