Parliament has officially passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBTQ bill, with Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga declaring that the legislative body’s commitment to protecting the country’s moral fabric remains unadulterated.
Mahama Ayariga strongly dismissed claims from the minority caucus that the legislation had been watered down following amendments proposed by the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs. The approved amendments clarify that publishing research findings, providing medical services, including counseling, treatment, or surgery and offering legal defense to individuals practicing LGBTQ do not constitute criminal offenses under the Act.
Mahama Ayariga clarified that these specific provisions were introduced by the committee out of an abundance of caution, though he maintained they were legally self-evident.
”I am convinced that any court would have struck down any attempt to convict a doctor providing medical services to any person involved in LGBTQ,” the Majority Leader stated, adding that the judiciary would similarly not have tolerated the prosecution of media practitioners or lawyers providing essential professional services.
According to Mahama Ayariga, opposition lawmakers had left the chamber to “mislead” the public by falsely suggesting that the bill passed by the house was a diluted version of the original draft presented to the presidency.
”This bill is not watered down. This bill does two major things,” he emphasized. “One, this bill prohibits any practice of LGBTQ in this country. Two, this bill prohibits any advocacy of LGBTQ in this country. This bill prohibits any promotion of LGBTQ in this country. And this bill punishes anybody who engages in any of these four things that I have mentioned.”
The Majority Leader maintained that the core substance of the legislation remains identical to what was originally introduced in the previous parliament. The final passage, he noted, satisfies the demands of many Ghanaians who seek to prevent the nation’s cultural values from being eroded by “strange practices.”
Mahama Ayariga extended his gratitude to the lawmakers who stayed through a Friday session to ensure the bill’s passage, specifically praising the Committee on Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, as well as the minority leader for supporting the process to its conclusion.
With the bill now passed by the house, Mahama Ayariga indicated that the legislation is ready for presidential assent, stating that the executive is prepared to receive it.
”As promised to Ghanaians, he will append his signature,” Mahama Ayariga concluded.
Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
