Samuel Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, has alleged that the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ousted its former leader in Parliament because he supported the passage of the Anti-gay bill.
Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Member of Parliament for Suame and former leader of the Majority caucus in Parliament, was replaced with Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the MP for Effutu, after his resignation.
Kyei-Mensah’s decision was announced at a crucial meeting of the Majority group on the evening of Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at the Jubilee House’s banquet hall in Accra, which was convened by President Akufo-Addo.
But according to Sam George, Kyei-Mensah Bonsu’s support for the passage of the bill is the reason he was ousted as leader of the majority caucus and replaced by Afenyo-Markin.
The anti-LGBTQ/Gay bill, formally known as the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, sponsored by Sam George and other MPs, is a proposed law in Ghana that introduces wide-ranging restrictions on LGBT+ rights.
On February 28, 2024, Parliament approved the bill and is pending effect until it is assented to by the President. However, the bill is still in Parliament and has not been transferred to the presidency as a result of some suits challenging the legality. The Supreme Court, has, however, set Wednesday, December 18, 2024, to rule on the matter.
Commenting on the development, Mr. George, on TV3’s BigIssue on NewDay Wednesday, November 20, 2024, alleged that Kyei-Mensah Bonsu was changed as leader of the NPP caucus in Parliament as a result of his support for the bill.
“Part of the reasons why they took Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu out as Majority Leader was because Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu supported me to pass the bill. I’m telling you today, we are in Parliament, we know what is going on in Parliament.
“The President came to Parliament on the 26th of February, and I’m giving you dates, and when he came, he met leadership, he pleaded with them not to pass the bill. And two days later, we showed him that we are not a rubber stamp Parliament. We passed the bill.
“And because Kyei-Mensah was instrumental, Kyei stood on his feet for two days, 8 hours each day to help us pass that bill, they kicked him out,” the vociferous lawmaker alleged.
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