The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has hinted that the anti-LGBTQI+ bill will definitely be passed in the 8th Parliament.
The Speaker was optimistic that the bill which seeks to place restrictions on LGBTQI+ activities will be passed before elections 2024.
“[The] sexual rights and human values bill that is being handled by the committee, definitely we’ll pass it before the next elections. We’ll pass it. That bill will go through”
Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
The Speaker who was engaging members of the Parliamentary Press Corps, did not agree that the passage of the anti-LGBTQI+ bill will be against human rights.
He opined that human rights are things that should add value to individuals and give all humans an equal playing field. “Anything negating from that cannot be human rights,” he said.
“When we talk about human rights we are talking about things that will add value to the human being by way of creating opportunities, creating an equal playing ground. Of giving some privileges and rights to each and everyone of us. Of removing the restrictions and hurdles to make you more freer. That’s what we call human rights. Anything negating from that cannot be human rights.”
Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament
The Speaker also intimated that rights have corresponding responsibilities and as such, there must be rules to check the way rights are used.
He alluded to the fact that “even the almighty God has rules,” suggesting that enacting rules to guard proper living cannot be viewed as an attempt to infringe on human rights.
The Anti-LGBTQI+ Bill
The anti-LGBTQI+ bill was introduced as a private members bill to Parliament in July 2021 and went through its first reading on Monday 2nd August, 2021.
The proposed legislation aims to ensure proper sexual rights and to protect Ghanaian family systems by restricting LGBTQ+ communities and activities related to them.
The bill seeks to criminalise the promotion and funding of LGBTQ+ activities as well as public displays of affection for LGBTQ+ persons. Since social media has become a world of its own, any advocacy done for such people on social media will be prohibited as well.
The Eighteen-Member Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament was task to undertake public hearings on the bill.
Before the committee began its business, it reported that, it had received 150 memoranda from individuals, groups and faith-based organizations on the Bill and so arranged to hold 10 hearings each week before the bill is put to a vote at the plenary.
Groups like Ghana AIDS Commission, Amnesty International, the Group of Concern Ghanaian Citizens, Human Rights Coalition, Amnesty International, amongst others expressed their outright rejection and condemnation of the bill.
On the other hand, faith-based organizations like the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), Church of Pentecost and Advocates for Christ pledged their total support for the bill.
Lawyer Akoto Ampaw, Professor Takyiwah Manu, Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh were among the renowned people who kicked against the passage of the bill.
The proponents of the bill in Parliament were Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George, who was the lead proponent, Emmanuel Bedzrah (Ho West) Della Adjoa Sowah (Kpando), John Ntim Fordjour (Assin South), Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini (Tamale North), Helen Adjoa Ntoso (Krachi West), Rita Naa Odoley Sowah (La Dadekotopon) and Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor (South Dayi).
