Bagbin promises to pass Anti-LGBTQ+ bill before 2024

The House will likely enact the contentious Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill before the 2024 election, according to Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin.

On Friday, October 28, 2022, Mr. Alban Bagbin provided the guarantee at a media appearance.

“Sexual Rights and Human Values bill that is being handled by the Committee, definitely we will pass it before the next election, we will pass it,” he declared of the committee’s current work.

The Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, which is working on the Bill, has previously been requested by the Speaker to move quickly with delivering its findings to the house for discussion.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) activities in the nation are to be made illegal under the proposed legislation.

Eight lawmakers co-submitted a Private Member’s Bill in August 2021 to call for the criminalization of same-sex unions.

The advocates also want all forms of homosexual activity to be outlawed in the nation, including their support, advocacy, funding, and practice.

Since the Bill’s release, many opposed to it have said that, if it becomes law, it will violate the fundamental human rights of those who identify with the group.

But Mr. Bagbin asserted: “When we talk about human rights, we are talking about things that will add value to the human being by way of creating opportunities, of given equal rights for all of us. That is what we call human rights. Anything negating from that cannot be a right. Don’t forget that rights go with responsibilities and duties go with obligations.”

Citizens have subsequently been asked to submit documents outlining their viewpoints to the Parliamentary Committee, which is presently reviewing the Bill.

The Committee has periodically held public hearings on the anti-LGBTQI+ Bill in light of the more than 124 memoranda from the public.

Since then, the bill’s sponsors have expressed regret at the delay in its passage.

Source: Ghanatodayonline.com