The anti-LGBTQ bill has been a contentious issue in Ghanaian Parliament, with Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressing doubt about its success. The bill, which was approved on Thursday, February 8, calls for jail time for those promoting or participating in LGBTQ activities.
Afenyo-Markin has raised concerns about the legislation, particularly the provision that imposes imprisonment on individuals involved in LGBTQ activities. However, the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, expressed skepticism about the success of Afenyo-Markin’s attempts to block the bill’s third reading.
In an interview with Accra-based Asaase Radio, Anyimadu-Antwi stated that he does not foresee the legislature supporting Afenyo-Markin’s stance. He believes that the sponsors of the private member’s bill are unlikely to make concessions and that the bill will ultimately be put to a vote.
Afenyo-Markin intervened to halt the third reading of the bill on Thursday, February 15, preventing its immediate passage. While he supports the principles outlined in the bill, he remains opposed to the provision that could result in the imprisonment of individuals advocating for LGBTQ activities.
This ongoing debate in the Ghanaian Parliament reflects the complex and contentious nature of the anti-LGBTQ bill, with different members holding contrasting views on its provisions and potential implications.
