Amnesty International-Ghana, a human rights organization, strongly opposes the ongoing attempts made by Members of Parliament to pass the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill. On Wednesday, July 5, all 275 MPs unanimously consented to the passage of the controversial Promotion of Proper Sexual Human Rights and the Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 during a debate on the parliamentary floor.
Amnesty International-Ghana maintains its stance against the bill, arguing that it will adversely affect individuals who identify as part of minority groups in any way. The organization believes that the bill requires further amendments as it seeks to criminalize LGBTQ practices and the advocacy of same.
Genevieve Partington, the Country Director for Amnesty International-Ghana, expressed the organization’s concerns regarding the bill. On the other hand, the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has recommended that the House passes the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, despite acknowledging significant human rights concerns associated with it. The committee claims that the majority of Ghanaians support the legislation.
The Committee, chaired by Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, presented an 18-page document with amendments based on their consultations and the advice of the Attorney General. Although they recognized the human rights concerns, they reached the decision to recommend the bill’s passage after considering the Attorney General’s opinion.
