The Minority in Parliament has dismissed claims that former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo failed to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, also known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
The caucus insists that although there were attempts to present the bill to the former President, it never reached him for assent.
Contributing to the debate on the floor of Parliament, the Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Jinapor, said former President Akufo-Addo deserves an apology over claims that he deliberately refused to sign the bill, describing such assertions as politically motivated.
“It was an attempted presentation. There was no breach of Article 106(7). It is therefore our submission on this side of the House that no bill was presented to former President Akufo-Addo,” he explained.
Background
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-Gay Bill, was passed by Ghana’s Parliament on February 28, 2024, after years of debate and public controversy. The bill sought to impose stricter penalties on LGBTQ+ activities, advocacy and support in Ghana.
Following its passage, the bill required presidential assent from former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo before it could become law. However, legal challenges were immediately filed at the Supreme Court questioning the constitutionality of the legislation.
In March 2024, the Presidency indicated that the bill should not be transmitted to the President for assent until the Supreme Court determined the pending cases.
A letter from the Office of the former President, signed by the former Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, cited applications seeking to restrain both Parliament and the President from proceeding with the bill.
Former President Akufo-Addo later stated publicly that he would wait for the Supreme Court’s ruling before taking any action on the bill, stressing the need to uphold the rule of law and constitutional processes.
