Accra: The New Patriotic Party Minority Caucus in Parliament has criticized the government for allegedly delaying the reintroduction of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which aims to criminalize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Caucus pointed out that although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in opposition had made strong declarations in support of the passage of the anti-LGBT bill in the Eighth Parliament, it had failed to reintroduce the bill in the Ninth Parliament. This alleged inaction is claimed to have paved the way for the public display of such practices.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, the Minority Leader, Osahen Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, expressed disappointment over the alleged deliberate delay by the government in reintroducing the bill. He highlighted that the NDC, while in opposition, used the anti-LGBTQ bill as a major campaign tool, promising Ghanaians their commitment to defending family values and enacting the bill into law.
Afenyo-Markin criticized the ruling party for going silent on the matter despite having the power and numbers to act. "Mr. Speaker, our friends in the then-opposition used the anti-LGBTQ bill as a major campaign tool. They made a strong declaration in support of its passage and gave Ghanaians strong assurance that they were committed to defending family values and enacting the bill into law. But today, when they have the power to hear, and the numbers, the same people have gone mute. This is just not disappointing but deliberate. You are coming here with an urgent bill. What happened to the anti-LGBTQ bill that you promised Ghanaians?" he queried.
