The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has ordered that committee meetings, debates, and votes on the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021 be made public to enhance openness and inclusion. He insisted that MPs’ votes on anti-LGBTQ+ bill will be public.
On Tuesday (26 October), Bagbin welcomed MPs back from recess to begin the third meeting of the first session of the eighth Parliament. He promised that all stakeholders and interested parties will be given the opportunity to express their views on the law.
“The Parliament of Ghana is capable of handling the situation. I’ll assure citizens of this country that we’ll create the enabling environment for all to put across their views. At the end of the day the processes of the House will determine the outcome,” Bagbin said.
“And when that is done, I’m convinced that the law that will come out of this, will protect the culture and values of our people and the Ghanaian identity.
“The law agrees that we also take into consideration the human rights and freedoms that have been guaranteed under our constitution. Ghana’s law that takes into consideration the richness of the common sense, human decency and morality, fact and logic. And at the end of the day it’s a law that will bring and transform this country into something else. Let’s allow all stakeholders to participate in the deliberations of this House,” he said.
He added: “I know Ghanaians are expectant and I know we’ve over 100 petitions before the committee of constitutional, legal and parliamentary affairs. It’s not only Africa but the whole world is looking for the outcome of this bill. We’ll not just allow people to come and delay the process. We’ll make the process public and the decision of this House will be public. We’ll want to know where each Member of Parliament stands.”
His statements are believed to be in response to the concerns of the 18 prominent Ghanaians who have raised human rights concerns about the bill. This approach will answer the fear of those against the bill, enhance openness and widen inclusion.
Story By: Ibn Abdul Latif
Source: Parliament of Ghana/Assase radio
