Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, has expressed optimism that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill could be passed
Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. Ntim Fordjour, has expressed optimism that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill could be passed into law within the next three to six months if stakeholders demonstrate the same commitment shown in the previous Parliament.
The former Deputy Education Minister said he expects a smooth legislative process since most of the contentious issues surrounding the bill have already been resolved.
“Within three to six months, we should be able to pass this bill. We’ve had bills more complex than this, which even came under a certificate of urgency. So, I don’t see why this should go beyond three months,” Rev. Fordjour stated.
He explained that the current bill will not require starting from scratch, as extensive consultations and debates were held during the last parliamentary session. This, he said, should help speed up its passage through the necessary legislative stages.
Rev. Fordjour further noted that if the bipartisan support seen earlier is maintained, Parliament could complete work on the bill before the end of the current meeting.
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, has stirred intense debate both locally and internationally. The proposed law seeks to criminalize same-sex relations and any activities perceived as promoting LGBTQ+ rights in Ghana.
The bill is expected to be laid before Parliament this week for its first reading before being referred to the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee for consideration.