The Minority Caucus in Parliament has accused the government of deliberately frustrating the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, while attempting to manage the political consequences of abandoning a position it previously championed.
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 4, and signed by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the caucus pointed to what it described as conflicting positions taken by key figures within the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) regarding the bill.
According to the Minority, the controversy intensified after Parliament passed the amended version of the bill. It recalled President John Dramani Mahama suggesting that the House may not have had the required quorum during the passage of the legislation.
The caucus also referenced calls by Speaker Alban Bagbin for the bill to be returned to the floor for a fresh Consideration Stage, as well as reported disagreement from the Majority Leader on the matter.
“The NPP believes these contradictions reflect an attempt to frustrate the Bill’s enactment, while managing the political consequences of abandoning a position that the NDC once vigorously championed,” the statement said.
The Minority further argued that the NDC’s current posture contrasts sharply with its position while in opposition, when it strongly advocated for the passage of the 2024 version of the bill and criticised delays in securing presidential assent.
According to the caucus, the reintroduced bill, which has undergone 31 amendments, represents a significant departure from the NDC’s previous stance on the legislation.
The Minority maintained that Ghanaians who supported the NDC based on its earlier position on the bill have a right to expect the government to honour those commitments.
The caucus reiterated its call for the version of the bill passed by the 8th Parliament in 2024 to be approved in its original form and forwarded for presidential assent.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill remains one of the most debated pieces of legislation in Ghana, with discussions continuing over its content, constitutionality, and the process required for it to become law.
Click to read the full statement
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