The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George has accused the Majority in Parliament of deliberately sabotaging the passage of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values bill, commonly known as the Anti-LGBT bill.
The bill, designed to proscribe LGBTQ+ activities, restrict propaganda or advocacy for such activities and ensure the protection and support of individuals, especially children, associated with LGBTQ+ matters, was scheduled for consideration on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday. However, the absence of Chairman Kwame Ayimadu-Antwi of the Constitutional Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee prevented its advancement.
The situation left proponents of the bill infuriated at the setback. A visibly angry lead proponent of the bill, Sam George in expressing his frustration and disappointment alleged that influential members within the majority caucus were intentionally obstructing the bill.
“Since 8:00 am, we have been calling the chairman of the committee, and he has refused to pick up the call or return the call. Those who have gone and gotten influenced by persons who have an interest in LGBTQ+ should return whatever influence they have collected. Because we will fight. The next time we address the media, I will mention names. I have been pressed upon by my co-sponsors not to. It is out of respect that I’m not mentioning names.”
“But if they continue with this behaviour of frustrating the bill, how can this bill be in Parliament for almost three years? This is a calculated attempt to disgrace and undermine the authority of the speaker, Alban Bagbin, and we will not accept it,” he said.
He emphasized the need for the public to take note of the actions within Parliament that seem to be slowing down the bill’s progress.
“Ghanaians should take note, Christian community, National House of Chiefs, CSOs should take note of the actions of persons in this house who want to slow down the bill. Those who think they can stand in its way, we will crash you,” he warned.
Source:newsalertgh