Parliament passes anti-LGBTQI bill

Ghana’s Parliament has passed the anti-LGBTQI bill after successfully taking it through all three reading stages.

The third reading of the Promotion of Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill was done on Wednesday, February 28.

“In the third reading of the anti-LGBTQ bill passed by parliament, the bill has been passed.”

“We want to thank Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, who was very instrumental in passing this bill,” one of the sponsors of the bill, Ningo-Prampram Lawmaker Samuel Nartey George, told journalists in Parliament after the passage.

“The house has stood united, the overwhelming majority of both sides of the house have supported this bill,” he added.

Before the passage, a human rights coalition, comprising CDD Ghana, “the big 18,” and others, had called on President Akufo-Addo not to assent to the bill in its current state.

Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo, Board Chair of the CDD, at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, noted that the bill will infringe on the fundamental human rights of many, including the media, as enshrined by the 1992 Constitution.

Professor Gadzekpo said “We observed that proposals to amend the Bill to substitute community services for in castration that was made by the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Mr. Afenyo-Markin was unfortunately rejected. Although his amendments were opposed by the majority of the house, leading to the removal of the proposed amendments, we appreciate his effort aimed at reforming our justice system.”

On Wednesday, February 21, the then Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, withdrew his amendments to the anti-LGBTIQ+ bill, which seeks to impose a prison sentence, paving the way for the bill to be considered for passage in the coming days.

However, with the coalition of civil society organizations and interest groups maintained, the bill must be looked at.

“Ghana is a secular and multi-religious country with over 50 ethnic groups with different cultural practices and beliefs. Any attempt to create a single cultural value system for Ghana erases the beautiful cultural mosaic that makes us a unique people.” Professor Gadzekpo posited.

She further explained, “It is for this reason that the constitution abolishes all practices and laws detrimental to people’s health and well-being, even in the name of culture and tradition.”

The coalition noted that the bill would undermine journalists’ ability to speak freely. The bill in its current form states, “Any person that uses the media to broadcast, slash, or advocate on LGBTQ+ topics faces a prison sentence of up to three years.”

The group believed that “this places a heavy restriction on journalists, bloggers, influencers, and various social media users who produce or publish content, especially those who work in the field of human rights.”