The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has raised concerns about recent amendments to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025, arguing that the changes weaken key provisions aimed at preventing the promotion and advocacy of LGBTQ activities in Ghana.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the legislator called on the leadership of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches, the Office of the National Chief Imam, and traditional religious leaders to carefully examine the amended Bill before it receives presidential assent.
“This is not the time for silence,” he said, urging religious bodies and clergy who supported the Bill to publicly assess whether the amended version still reflects its original purpose.
Assafuah alleged that the Majority in Parliament introduced changes to Clause 9 of the Bill, creating exemptions that were not included in the version initially passed by Parliament.
According to him, the original Bill contained clear provisions that criminalised the promotion, support, advocacy, dissemination, and facilitation of acts prohibited under the legislation, with offenders facing prison sentences of between five and ten years.
He noted that the original Clause 9 prohibited the production, publication, dissemination, and distribution of materials intended to promote acts outlawed by the Bill.
It also criminalised efforts to influence public opinion in support of such acts and the provision of assistance or resources to facilitate them.
However, the Old Tafo MP argued that the revised Bill introduces exemptions under Clause 9(2), which he believes significantly alters the intent of the legislation.
“The Ghanaian people must not be deceived,” Assafuah stated, insisting that the Bill cannot be described as stronger when exemptions have been inserted into what he considers its key enforcement provision.
He questioned why the exemptions were absent from the original Bill and challenged supporters of the amendments to explain how the changes would strengthen the legislation.
“The fundamental question remains unanswered: Has Clause 9 been strengthened, or have loopholes been smuggled into the very provision Parliament designed to prohibit propaganda, promotion and advocacy for prohibited acts?” he asked.
Mr Assafuah maintained that the original Bill recognised that movements and campaigns grow through promotion, organisation, financing, and deliberate efforts to shape public opinion.
He argued that strict restrictions on advocacy and promotion were therefore necessary to achieve the Bill’s objectives.
He further stressed that the issue goes beyond partisan politics and concerns legislative integrity and Parliament’s commitment to the objectives for which the Bill was originally introduced.
