Minority slams removal of anti-LGBTQ+ Bill from agenda

Members of the Minority in Parliament are raising concerns over the sudden removal of the anti-LBGTQ+ bill from the Order Paper, accusing the government of avoiding the controversial legislation.

The bill, formally titled the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, was expected to be reintroduced on Wednesday, October 22, after appearing on the previous day’s agenda.

However, it was absent from the day’s business schedule without explanation.

Addressing the issue on the floor of Parliament, Minority member Habib Iddrisu described the development as troubling.

“Mr Speaker, we cannot have bills advertised on the Order Paper yesterday and today, the same bills are missing without anything being explained to anybody,” he said. “We, the leadership of the Minority here, are not aware why it has not been captured in today’s Order Paper. Neither are the sponsors.”

Adding to the pressure, Ntim Fordjour accused the government of deliberately backing away from the bill.

“Suddenly, this clearly indicates that there seems to be a clear attempt by the NDC government to run away from this bill,” he said. “The bill that they thought was important yesterday must be important today.”

The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, responded by clarifying that the bill had already been passed by the previous Parliament and sent to the Presidency, implying there was no need for it to be relisted.