Ghana’s controversial Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill is likely to be passed by Parliament in March this year.
In an interview on Eyewitness News on Accra-based Citi FM, Sam Nartey George, a leading advocate of the Bill shared details on the current status of the bill, indicating that it is currently undergoing amendments with input from various stakeholders.
“They are nearly 60% done with consideration. Hopefully, there will be another two weeks of parliamentary work when we resume, and they should be done with consideration. The third stage of reading is just a procedural thing. It is read, and then the bill is passed,” George said.
He further provided more details regarding the timeline regarding its passage, the MP indicated the committee is making a lot of progress.
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“In fact, during the first session of the meeting we are about to start, we believe that in the first session, which is going to run from the 6th of February to the end of March or early April, I believe that we should pass the bill before Easter. I think it is something we should give as an Easter gift from parliament to the nation. So we would strive to work with the speaker and the committee chair, ” he said.
Termed as the anti-gay bill, it seeks to criminalize same-sex relationships, including oral and anal activities, proposing penalties ranging from five to 10 years of imprisonment.
LGBT people in Ghana have historically faced serious human rights abuses, including physical and psychological violence, extortion, and discrimination in their daily life. Many live in constant fear of being attacked just for who they are. Since 2021, debate around The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 has heightened attacks against LGBT people.
