Ghana’s Parliament has finally passed the Anti-LGBTQ bill into law.
The bill aims to uphold proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values while prohibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+), and related activities.
The Bill in its current form proposes a jail term ranging from six months to three years for those found engaged in same-sex activities, with a more severe punishment of three to five years for promoters and activists of LGBTQ rights.
After more than three years of deliberations, the bill was unanimously approved on Wednesday, February 28, following the completion of the third reading.
During the session, Speaker Alban Bagbin rejected proposed amendments to the bill.
The bill is now set to be forwarded to President Akufo-Addo for his assent.
Even though Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin withdrew several proposed amendments to the bill on February 21, he resurrected those amendments and attempted to reintroduce them.
He argued against measures that could prevent individuals or groups from providing support to vulnerable members of society, emphasizing the importance of aligning the bill with constitutional imperatives.
However, those amendments were vehemently opposed by the Minority.
In response to these arguments, the Speaker of Parliament proposed deferring further consideration of the bill, citing Order 172(4), which states that a motion of the Third reading shall not be made on the same day as the Second reading.
However, following another round of amendments proposed by MP for Nimgo-Prampram constituency, Sam George, and others, Muntaka Mubarak, MP for Asawase, moved a motion to suspend this rule.
Despite opposition from Majority Leader Afenyo-Markin, the motion to suspend the rules was carried, allowing the House to proceed to the Third Reading.
The Speaker again had cause to decline the Effutu MP’s minute attempt to propose further amendments to the bill.
More updates to follow.
