The ratification of the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values,” bill commonly referred to as the anti-gay bill, has been postponed to Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
The move is in conjunction with Parliament’s new standing orders which requires at least a gap of at least a day sitting before the third reading of the bill can be done.
This comes after the second reading of the bill which seeks to criminalise LGBT activities and penalise those who practice, promote, advocate and fund it.
Meanwhile, the Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has withdrawn his proposed amendments to the bill on the promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values.
This comes after the House voted against two of the proposals which demanded a replacement of imprisonment with community service for persons found culpable of LGBT activities.
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Mr Afenyo-Markin also withdrew his new amendment seeking mandatory counseling on human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values as a post-conviction sentence.
The anti-gay bill has been controversial since it was first introduced in Parliament. Human rights groups have said that the bill would violate the rights of LGBT people in Ghana.
On Thursday, February 8, Parliament approved a three-to-five-year jail term for individuals who intentionally promoted or sponsored LGBTQ+ activities.
Those caught in the act could face a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 3 years in prison.
During the amendment process of the bill promoting proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, Mr Afenyo-Markin argued that punitive measures would not contribute to the rehabilitation of the offenders.
He expressed concern about the state of the country’s prisons and their inability to provide the necessary rehabilitation for offenders.
The Effutu lawmaker proposed replacing a minimum two-month imprisonment sentence with a minimum one-month community service for individuals found guilty of LGBTQ+ activities.
