Leading proponent of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values bill 2021 and MP for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has stressed parliament’s preparedness to ensure the approved bill reaches Jubilee House, the seat of government, in the next seven days to be assented by the President.
According to the Ningo-Prampram legislator, a bill passed by parliament must, within seven days after passage, be submitted to the office of the president for presidential assent.
The controversial anti-LGBTQ bill was unanimously passed by parliament on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, after three long years since it was introduced on the floor of parliament.
Speaking to Alfred Ocansey, host of TV3’s Ghana Tonight programme, Sam George noted the bill’s overwhelming support from the majority of MPs from both sides of the aisle.
Responding to the approved bill’s journey into law, Sam George said, “Parliament will within seven days communicate same to the transmission of the bill to the president and then the president is supposed to within seven to 14 days assent to the bill.”
He continued by saying, “If he [President Akufo-Addo] has any challenges with the bill he is supposed to indicate the same in a written letter to parliament.”
He emphasized that within the next seven days, parliament will make sure the bill gets to the presidency adding that “we will monitor it because we know what happened with the other bills that we’re passed by parliament,” where the bills stayed in parliament for months.
“This one [anti-LGBTQ bill] we will monitor it so that within seven days it gets to the office of the president,” he reiterated.
The anti-LGBTQ bill if assented to by the president will, amongst other things, impose sanctions on willful promotion and engaging in LGBTQ activities in the country.
The bill proscribed a minimum sentence of six months and maximum three years for persons caught in the act of same-sex activities.
The anti-LGBTQ bill passed: I believe the president will stick to his word. – Sam George, MP for Ningo-Prampram#GhanaTonight pic.twitter.com/XuxkaGzzOF
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) February 29, 2024
However, persons found guilty of willful promotion or advocating or funding the activities of LGBTQ will, upon conviction, face three years minimum and five years maximum imprisonment.
Meanwhile, parliament has come under criticism from international communities for passing what it describes as an “anti-LGBTQ” law that will abuse human rights.
Board Chair for the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, Audrey Gadzekpo before the passage of the bill, called on President Akufo-Addo not to assent to the bill.
She maintained that the bill in its current state violates human rights.