THE First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Bernard Ahiafor, has referred the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, a Private Member’s Bill, to the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs for consideration and report to the House.
Mr Ahiafor has also directed the leadership of the Human Rights Committee to join the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs in scrutinising the Bill.
This was after the relaying of the Bill and its first reading on the floor of the House on Tuesday, following a directive by the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin.
It would be recalled that Mr Bagbin recently ordered the Business Committee to reschedule the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, for consideration by the House.
He noted that the rescheduling of the Bill was necessary as it met all the Constitutional and legal requirements.
The Bill is sponsored by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour; the MP for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Samuel Nartey George; the MP for Ho West, Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Bedzrah; the MP for Krachi West, Mrs Helen Adjoa Ntoso; and the MP for Nalerigu/Gambaga, Mr Nurideen Muhammad Mummuni.
The other sponsors are the MP for Old Tafo, Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah; the MP for Gushegu, Mr Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana; the MP for La-Dadekotopon, Ms Rita Naa Odoley Sowah; the MP for Walewale, Dr Tiah Abdul-Kabiru Mahama; and the MP for Odotobri, Mr Anthony Mmieh.
In a brief statement, Rev. Fordjour said the Bill aligns with Ghanaian cultural norms and values, which oppose same-sex marriage. He cited results of an Afrobarometer survey conducted by CDD-Ghana, indicating that 93 per cent of Ghanaians consider the promotion and propagation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) activities as highly unacceptable.
He also addressed concerns that enthusiasm from the Majority Caucus had waned, a claim later rejected by the Majority Leader, who insisted that his side of the House remains committed to the passage of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025.
Rev. Fordjour expressed hope that the Bill would receive the necessary attention.
“Mr Speaker, it is the expectation of the sponsors of this Bill, which is a bipartisan Bill, that the House passes it with the urgency and alacrity before it goes on recess. This is because this is not a new Bill but an old Bill that has gone through all the legal processes and consultations,” he said.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
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