Assin South MP John Ntim Fordjour has expressed strong reservations about the newly approved Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025, arguing that recent amendments have significantly weakened the legislation and diminished its intended impact.
The bill, commonly referred to as the anti-LGBTQ bill, was passed by Parliament on Friday, May 29, following extensive deliberations and consideration of proposed changes.
However, Fordjour believes the exemptions introduced into the law have stripped it of the effectiveness supporters originally sought.
Under the revised provisions, lawyers representing persons identified as LGBT, journalists and media organisations reporting on LGBTQ-related matters, and healthcare professionals offering medical, psychological, counselling, or related services are exempt from prosecution while carrying out their professional duties.
Speaking shortly after the bill’s passage, the Assin South lawmaker questioned the rationale behind the exemptions, describing the legislation as lacking the strength needed to address what proponents consider the promotion of homosexuality.
According to him, the revised version falls short of expectations and risks becoming a symbolic measure rather than a meaningful legal instrument.
He suggested that if the government was not prepared to enact a robust law, it would have been better not to proceed with the bill at all.
Fordjour particularly took issue with the exemptions connected to Section 9 of the legislation, which addresses the promotion of homosexuality.
He argued that excluding key groups from the law’s reach creates loopholes that undermine its objectives and raises questions about who exactly the legislation seeks to target.
In his view, the exemptions make the bill counterproductive and weaken efforts to enforce its provisions effectively.
The amendments have also sparked political controversy in Parliament. Members of the Minority Caucus strongly opposed the changes, contending that the revisions cast doubt on the integrity of the earlier version of the bill that was presented to former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
Minority MPs argued that the decision to alter key provisions suggests that the previous draft contained significant shortcomings.
The debate over the exemptions is expected to continue as stakeholders assess the implications of the newly passed legislation and its potential impact on the country’s legal and social landscape.
