Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has emphatically and categorically stated the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly referred to as the anti-LGBTQI+ bill, will be passed by Parliament. According to the Speaker, he has the firm assurance from President Mahama the legislation will receive his assent once passed.
Speaking at the Kasoa Traditional Leaders and Stakeholders Forum, which brought together community leaders, residents, and government officials to discuss key development issues affecting the municipality, Bagbin attributed the delay in Ghana having such a law to the refusal of the former President Akufo-Addo to assent to it after its passage by the 8th Parliament.
According to him, the bill, which sparked intense national debate, was largely driven by public input and reflects the values and concerns expressed by many Ghanaians and traditional authorities.
“Be sure, I am there, the law will be passed…when the former president declined to assent it. When that Parliament ended, it ended with that bill in the hands of the former Parliament.
“You agree with me that this parliament is not the same as the last parliament. It is very different, 137- 137 and also 20 women NPP, 20 women NDC. This Parliament is 189 as against 87,” he said.
Bagbin assured that the bill will be passed when Parliament reconvenes. The assurance of the Speaker follows recent backlash over President Mahama’s comments such a legislation is not on the priority lists of Ghanaians.
Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation and lead sponsor of the original bill Samuel Nartey George has reiterated the passage of the legislation remains a priority for government in response to accusations of deception by the opposition New Patriotic Party.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill which seeks to regulate issues relating to sexual orientation and family values has since been laid in parliament and referred to the committee for Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. The Bill has however generated public debates.
