Anti-gay bill: Amendments to be concluded by February 9 – Majority leader

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has hinted that the clause-by-clause amendment of the anti-gay bill could be concluded on Friday, February 9.

The House is expected to continue considering the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill following its resumption from recess on Tuesday, February 6.

Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, in his opening remarks in Parliament, disclosed that the bill is anticipated to be fully amended by Friday.

“The Business Committee on February 5 programmed to have the first consideration of the bill beginning February 7, and we do anticipate that we will be able to get it to a closure by Friday [February 9].”

The bill seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ and its related activities in Ghanaian society.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi expressed confidence that the committee will finish amending the clauses in the bill on the promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values early this year.

He said between February and March this year, the bill will be passed.

The bill, which aims to criminalize LGBTQ+ activities, has sparked controversy since its introduction in Parliament by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, and some other lawmakers.

“We were at clause four, so we did clauses one, two, and three. And then we have clause four, clause six, clause eight, clause nine up till the end of it. So when we get back in Parliament, we have amendments in almost all the clauses, and it ends at clause 24.”

“And I am very sure that in February or March, we will be able to go through what is otherwise known as the LGBTQ+, and then everybody will be free,” he said.