Ningo-Prampram MP, Samuel Nartey George, has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo to promptly sign the anti-LGBTQ+ bill into law following its passage on Wednesday, February 28. Mr. George, a lead sponsor of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2021, emphasized the importance of the president’s support in making the bill effective.
Addressing the media after the bill’s passage, Mr. George expressed gratitude for the considerable support among MPs for its enactment. He specifically acknowledged the contribution of Mr. Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, a former Majority Leader, in ensuring the bill’s success. “We want to thank Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who played a pivotal role in passing this bill,” Mr. George remarked, underscoring the unity among MPs from both sides of the aisle in endorsing the legislation.
The objective of the bill is to safeguard proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values by prohibiting LGBTQ+ and related activities. It criminalizes the promotion, advocacy, and funding of these activities, with penalties ranging from six months to three years for individuals engaged in such acts, and three to five years for promoters and sponsors.
However, the passage of the bill has sparked concern internationally, with the United States cautioning about its potential adverse effects on Ghana’s economy. The US Department of State expressed deep concern over the legislation, noting that it could threaten constitutionally protected freedoms such as speech, press, and assembly. Matthew Miller, the department’s spokesperson, highlighted the bill’s provisions criminalizing LGBTQI+ individuals and mandating reporting by community members as particularly troubling.
“The bill would also undermine Ghana’s valuable public health, media and civic spaces, and economy. International business coalitions have already stated that such discrimination in Ghana would harm business and economic growth in the country,” the statement added.
