Anti-gay bill hits snag in Parliament with fresh lawsuits

The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill may not be passed anytime soon as two fresh suits have been filed against it. Popularly known as the anti-gay bill, the Bill was expected to be part of business for next week sittings.

It was expected to be read for the second time for consideration by plenary from the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, had been raising hopes of supporters of the Bill this week that it is going to be passed this Meeting.

In his tour of the northern region of Ghana, the former lawmaker told journalists that he will prefer to die than to see the activities of gays and lesbians legalised. “For you all to participate in it, count me out of Ghana,” the Speaker of Parliament told journalists as part of his tour to mark 30 years of parliamentary democracy.

“I will prefer to join my Maker than to live. That is me. I am a Catholic and pro-life. I will not do anything that will end the world because God says the world is eternal. Until He comes back we cannot do that to end the world.”

Finding out why the Bill was not part of business for next week, Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament (MP) Sam Nartey George, who is a sponsor of the Private Member’s Bill, was told that there are two suits filed against the Bill, one at the High Court and the other at the Supreme Court.

“In respect of that Bill, there is a court action pending which Mr Speaker has been made a party,” said First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu.

“Mr Speaker brought the court action to the attention of leaders and so I think in considering programming or not programming it,  you may wish to discuss with the Speaker what steps you may take before you programme them.”