Hearings on anti-LGBTQI+ bill to be made public

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has said proceedings regarding the anti-LGBTQI+ bill before the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee would be made public.

He announced on the floor of the house today, October 26, 2021, when the house reconvened from recess for the third meeting of the first session of the 8th parliament.

“We’ll make the process public and I support what the majority leader said. The sitting of the committee will be public and the decision of this house will be public. We will want to know where each member of parliament stands,” he said.

He also said he is convinced that the outcome of the bill will produce a law that will protect the culture and values of the people of Ghana and Ghanaian identity.

He however urged the house to accommodate the various views and positions of Ghanaians on the subject.

“I know Ghanaians are expectant and I know we have over 100 petitions before the Committee of Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs but we’ll try not to allow any filibustering of this bill because it’s not only Africa; the whole world is looking for the outcome of this bill and, so, we’ll not just allow people to come and delay the process,” he added.

The Minority leader Haruna Iddrisu has also asked that the compilation of the report by the committee, reflects the values and norms of the Ghanaian community.

The bill known as the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021 has generated debates all over the country and beyond. Initiated by eight members of Parliament, it seeks to criminalize LGBTQI+ activities and advocacy.

It has received widespread public support, while a section of the public have also condemned it, describing it as promoting hate.

Individuals, institutions and civil society organisations have so far submitted memo’s to Parliament, supporting it or otherwise.