President of Constitutional and Legal Affairs warns members against comments on anti-LGBTQ + bill

The President of Parliament’s Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs cautioned committee members to refrain from publicly commenting on the Ghanaian Human Sexual Rights and Family Values ​​Promotion Bill, commonly known as the Anti-Human Sexual Rights Bill. LGBTQ +.

Kwame Anyimadu Antwi, in an yet to be released edition of JoyNews probe, explained that the Committee was tasked with examining the controversial bill that divided the country; as such, members should be responsible in their public statements.

According to him, “taking a neutral position” on the bill, which will soon be deliberated, will guarantee lawmakers a successful and satisfactory job.

“As a committee in Parliament, we took no position. Indeed, it will create the impression that “the president who is supposed to review these principles is taking a stand to support this bill” so that people already know the outcome. [of it]”he told host Emefa Apawu.

In addition, Asante lawmaker Akyem Central further disputed claims that the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee is hypocritical for its silence on the ongoing debate.

He stressed that with the critical work to be done, the selection committee must be tactical in its conduct so as not to be biased.

In August, eight parliamentarians jointly submitted a private bill to lobby for the criminalization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ +) activity in the country.

Supporters also want the promotion, advocacy, funding and acts of homosexuality to be banned in the country.

Since the bill was made public, opponents have argued that if the bill passes, it would be a violation of the basic human rights of individuals who identify with the group.

The bill is currently before the parliamentary committee which has since invited citizens to submit documents indicating their position on the bill.

Mr. Anyimadu Antwi revealed that so far the committee has received more than 124 memoranda from the public on the anti-LGBTQI + bill, which is currently before the House for consideration.

He further promised that each of the memoranda will receive the same attention during the deliberation of the bill.

“It wasn’t the last day yet, so we continue to entertain, and that’s why I can’t add more. Even the day the committee sits, if you bring a note, we’ll hear you.

“This is a matter of public interest, and we would like to hear from all angles, so the clerk issued a notice that those interested would in fact rise so that when Parliament resumes we can look at those- here and also have the time to read them, ”he said.