The Minority in Parliament has taken aim at the government, accusing it of intentionally stalling the reintroduction of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, which aims to outlaw LGBTQ+ activities in Ghana.
The Minority says the governing party, which strongly championed the bill while in opposition, has gone silent now that it has the majority and executive authority. According to the caucus, the government’s failure to act on its earlier commitment has allowed what they describe as “unacceptable public expression of such practices” to persist.
Raising the matter on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, June 25, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed disappointment over the delay, describing it as calculated.
“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.
The Minority Leader’s comments reflect growing frustration among sections of the House and the public over the government’s apparent backtracking on a matter it once declared a national priority.
The bill, which generated significant debate and public interest in the 8th Parliament, has yet to resurface in the current legislative session, raising concerns among its proponents that it may be intentionally shelved.
