President Akufo-Addo Gives Update On Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill In Parliament

The President of the Republic, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill currently before Parliament will meet the aspirations of all when it’s passed into law.

The Bill considered by many as an anti-LGBTQ+ law seeks to criminalize homosexuality.

The Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs is expected to present its report on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill this week.

This is according to Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram and a proponent of the bill, following a meeting with the Attorney General.

Among other things, the Bill proposes jailterm for people who engage in same-sex and persons who promote such activities.

Speaking to journalists at the Jubilee House during a joint press briefing with US Vice President, Kamala Harrison on Monday, President Akufo-Addo said he has had an extensive briefing on the Bill.

President Akufo-Addo is hopeful that Parliament will come out with a responsible response on the bill.

He indicated that the substantial elements of the Anti-LGBTQI bill, which is currently before Parliament, have been modified.

“The Bill is going through Parliament, the Attorney General is doing its part regarding the constitutionality or otherwise of its provisions and Parliament is dealing with it. At the end of the process, I will come in, but in the meantime, Parliament is dealing with it. And I know that the Parliament of Ghana will show us what it’s done in its past. First of all, it’s a sensitive human rights issue, as well as the feelings of our population and will come up with a responsible response to the proposal,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

He explained that the modification was done upon the intervention of the Attorney-General, adding that the final outcome is yet to be determined.

“My understanding with the recent discussion I had with the chairman of the committee is that, substantial elements of the bill have already been modified,” he stated while responding to a question from a New York Times journalist.

President Akufo-Addo also dismissed claims that there is already a legislation governing the activities of the LGBQI+ fraternity in the country.

Clarifying the matter, he noted that the Anti-LGBTQI bill has not been passed yet.

“The statement that there is legislation to that effect is not accurate,” he emphasised.

According to him, he has no doubt that Parliament will consider the sensitivity of the human rights aspect.

“The legislation is a legislation that is being proposed as a Private Members Bill. This is not an official legislation of the government but it is one that is being mooted by a handful of private members,” President Akufo-Addo clarified.

It would be recalled that on July 2021, eight members of Parliament introduced the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-LGBTQ bill.

The bill seeks to criminalise Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) activities in the country.

However, International organizations have raised concerns that the Bill could infringe on the rights of LGBTQ+ persons who are a minority group in the country.

Although the bill is at the consideration stage in Parliament, the Attorney-General says portions are unconstitutional.

Mr. Godfred Yeboah Dame explained that some of the “provisions will violate some fundamental human rights and freedoms, particularly the right to privacy.

This is contained in a response to a request for memoranda on the position of government by the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs of Parliament dated October 19, 2022.

According to Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Anti-LGBTQI bill, in its current form, will therefore face some fundamental challenges during its implementation.

 

 

 

 

 

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