Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill: Group Urges President Akufo-Addo Not to Assent When Passed | General News

The Chairperson for the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, Professor Audrey Gadzekpo has played a clarion call on the President not to assent to the Promotion of the Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill when passed in Parliament in its current state.

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, February 27, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo noted that the Bill when passed, will contravene the fundamental human rights of many including the media as against what has been enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

Professor Gadzekpo said, “We observed that proposals to amend the Bill to substitute community services for incarceration that was made by the Member of Parliament for Effutu, Mr. Afenyo-Markin was unfortunately rejected. Although his amendments were opposed by the majority of the House leading to a removal of the proposed amendments, we appreciate his effort aimed at reforming our justice system.”

On Wednesday, February 21, the then Deputy Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin pulled back his amendments to the anti-LGBTIQ+ bill which seeks to impose a prison sentence paving way for the Bill to be considered for passage in the coming days.

However, the coalition of civil society organizations and interest groups maintains that the Bill must be relooked at and further consideration done.

Professor Gadzekpo pointed out that, “Ghana is a secular and multi-religious country with over 50 ethnic groups with different cultural practices and beliefs. Any attempt to create a single cultural value system for Ghana erases the beautiful cultural mosaic that makes us a unique people.”

Explaining further, the CDD Board chair said, “It is for this reason that the constitution abolishes all practices and laws detrimental to people’s health and well-being, even in the name of culture and tradition.”

The coalition noted that, the Bill will undermine the journalists’ ability to speak freely. The Bill in its current form states, “any person that uses the media to broadcast and slash or advocate on LGBTQ+ topic faces a prison sentence of up to three years.”

The human right groups believe that “this places a heavy restriction on journalists, bloggers, influencers and various social media users who produce or publish content, especially those who work in the field of human rights.”

They, therefore, require of the President to block the bill when passed by Parliament. They believe the bill in its current state will negatively affect the democratic gains of the country when it is passed.

“As a result of this, we urge the President not to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2021,” Professor Audrey Gadzekpo concluded.