Samuel Nartey George, a sponsor of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-gay bill in Parliament, has conveyed optimism that the legislation will be ratified by the conclusion of March this year.He expresses the desire for Parliament to pass the bill, intending to present it as an Easter gift to the people of Ghana. Currently, the bill comprises 25 clauses, with approximately 11 clauses addressed before Parliament's break on December 23 last year.
The Ningo Prapram lawmaker stated that if everything progresses as anticipated, the bill could be passed within two weeks. He hopes that by the end of March, coinciding with the Easter celebration, the legislation will have been successfully approved, as mentioned on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on Wednesday, January 31.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, emphasized the importance of passing the bill in a way that ensures its enduring validity. He highlighted the varying opinions among religious leaders, stating that some support the bill while others oppose it.
During a press briefing in Parliament on Thursday, December 7, he cautioned against politicizing the bill, stating that any attempt to associate it with political affiliations may impede its passage. Anyimadu-Antwi clarified that the committee's discussions on the matter were thorough and not biased, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive and thoughtful approach to the bill.
"Some members of the public, including some reverend figures, argue that this bill is unfavorable and should not be passed, while most Reverend ministers assert that it is a beneficial bill that should be approved. We should enact legislation that can withstand the test of time," he stated. Earlier, he refuted claims by Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, that the Majority in Parliament opposed the bill.
He clarified that the Parliamentary leadership has not directed the committee to submit the bill for consideration.
The bill has been under review, and its progression has been delayed due to discussions with religious bodies. The Speaker suggested a meeting with religious bodies to explore potential incorporation of rehabilitation measures for LGBTQ+ individuals who may be affected by the bill. Although initially skeptical of its sustainability, the committee considered holding a workshop to address concerns. However, as of now, there hasn't been any directive from leadership to proceed with the consideration of the bill. The legislator also pointed out that there are other bills at the consideration stage, such as the Intestate Succession Bill and the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, making it impractical to initiate discussions on all simultaneously.
He told journalists while responding to Sam George who is one of the sponsors of the Anti-Gay Bill who had indicated that the leadership of the Majority in Parliament reached out to sponsors of the bill to step it down.
The opposition lawmaker was livid over the inability of Parliament to consider the bill on Wednesday, December 6 as scheduled.
He accused Mr Anyimadu-Antwi of refusing to show up in Parliament to allow for the process to be moved to consider the bill.
Addressing reporters in
Parliament, the Ningo-Prampram lawmaker expressed frustration with the
proceedings in the chamber. He recounted that Speaker Alban Bagbin had
initially informed the sponsors that the consideration of the bill's amendment
would take place that day. Despite attempts to reach the committee chairman,
there was no response, and the Speaker indicated the urgency of addressing the
bill.
According to the
lawmaker, the Speaker had instructed the First Deputy Speaker to proceed with
the consideration in his absence. However, when the Deputy Speaker took the
chair, the consideration of the anti-LGBTQI bill did not occur, leading to the
sponsors' frustration. This was not the first instance of such instructions
being disregarded in the Speaker's absence, creating a recurring issue.
The lawmaker emphasized
the need to understand the Majority side's concerns about the bill and
questioned whether internal disagreements were contributing to the delay. He
highlighted that the excuse given for not considering the bill due to the
absence of the Committee chairman was inconsistent with parliamentary
practices, as the Ranking Member was present. He pointed out that in government
bills, the Ranking Member can move amendments in the absence of the Committee
chair, and similarly, in private members' bills, the private members should
have the flexibility to move the bill even if the Committee chair is absent.
Regarding the approval of this bill, Majority Leader Osei
Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu mentioned that Parliament would review the legislation.
During a Leaders' Media Briefing in Parliament on Tuesday, November 7, he
guaranteed that the House would allocate time for its examination. He stated,
"If we are unable to address it in this session, we must handle it in the
early stages of the subsequent meeting, which will be the First Meeting of the
Fourth Session," as conveyed by the Suame lawmaker.
Source: cometodaddy.xyz
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