Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, is accusing the Majority
trating legislative progress on the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021.
The MP who is the lead sponsor of the bill told reporters in Parliament yesterday, that it was the third time the consideration of the bill was prevented despite explicit directive from the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
The bill which seeks to proscribe same sex relationships has been on the Order Paper for Monday, Tuesday and yesterday.
“This morning, the Speaker of Parliament called and said to all of us as sponsors that the consideration and amendment of the bill was going to be taken today.
“When we got to Parliament, he indicated again that he wanted us to be present. Since 8am, we have been calling the chairman of the committee but he has refused to pick his call and hasn’t returned the call either,” he said.
According to him, when the sitting commenced, the Speaker indicated that he would take only one question to make time for the consideration of the bill having indicated he would be attending to another important business out of the chamber.
“So when the Speaker called the first deputy speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, to take the chair, he indicated to him, and I state this on authority, to finish with questions and proceed to take the bill.
“In fact, when the Speaker went into his lobby, myself, Hon. Helen Ntorsu, and Hon. Della Sowah, followed up with the Speaker to find out from him if the bill will still be taken and the Speaker indicated, that he had instructed the first deputy speaker to start the consideration,” Sam George said.
Supported by other sponsors of the bill, Sam George said they could not fathom why the process was being thwarted.
“Our frustration is that this is not the first time this thing is happening. This is the third time the Speaker’s instruction has been disregarded in his absence.
“We need to understand from the Majority side what their issues with the bill are. We need to understand from those who take the chair when the speaker leaves the chamber what their opposition to the bill is.”
To him, the excuse by the Majority that the consideration of the bill could not be taken because the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi was untenable.
This is because even government Businesses are sometimes moved by the Ranking Member in the absence of the chairman.
“If the ranking member can move for a government bill to be taken, then how come in the case of private members bill with sponsors, saying they are comfortable, the one sitting in the chair says he can’t take it?” he asked.
He suspects the delay in the process is intended to bring the name of the Speaker into disrepute as he has pledged to ensure the bill was passed before the eighth parliament elapses.
He warned that “for those who think they can stand in the way of this bill, we will crush you at your primaries in February 2024.”
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
