NEWS FLASH! Speaker Bagbin Urges Committee to Stand Strong Against Anti-Gay Bill

Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has urged the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee of Parliament to not be intimidated by anyone regarding the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, popularly known as the Anti-Gay Bill.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting with the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship on March 28th, Bagbin emphasized the importance of receiving the committee’s report and not straying from the direction laid out in the Ghanaian Constitution.

Bagbin’s comments come at a time when the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has distanced himself from the Anti-Gay Bill.

Proposed under a Private Members’ Bill, the legislation seeks to criminalize some of the activities of homosexuals in Ghana.

While President Akufo-Addo confirmed that the bill is currently before Parliament, which will decide on it, he noted that many of its provisions are still being fine-tuned.

During a visit to Ghana, US Vice President Kamala Harris also commented on the issue of LGBTQ+ rights, stressing the importance of supporting human rights and fighting for equality among all people.

In a statement to the American press, Harris highlighted her career-long dedication to addressing human rights and equality issues, including those affecting the LGBTQ+ community.

Ghana is not the only African country where homosexuality is a contentious issue.

In recent years, many African nations have tightened their laws regarding LGBTQ+ rights, including Uganda, which passed a bill criminalizing homosexuality in 2014.

While homosexuality is illegal in Ghana, some activists and advocates have been pushing for greater acceptance and legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals in the country.

As the debate over the Anti-Gay Bill continues, it remains to be seen what direction Ghana will take regarding LGBTQ+ rights.

However, Bagbin’s comments suggest that he is committed to following the path laid out in the country’s Constitution, while also emphasizing the importance of not being intimidated by outside pressure.