The Ho West MP and sponsor of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, Emmanuel Bedzrah, has expressed firm confidence that the bill will be passed again in the current Parliament and this time receive presidential assent.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Tuesday, Bedzrah explained that the previous version of the bill, which was passed by the 8th Parliament, has lapsed and must be reintroduced.
He said the process has already begun, and Parliament is waiting for the Speaker’s directive to have it officially laid before the House.
“The 8th Parliament bill that was passed by Parliament is now moot. We don’t have a bill. All we have now is a new bill that has been introduced to the House. We are waiting for the Speaker to give a directive, as he gave on Tuesday,” Bedzrah said.
He recounted how the earlier version of the bill, which enjoyed unanimous support in Parliament, failed to become law because it never reached the President for assent.
“As you are aware, eight of us sponsored the bill, and we did everything humanly possible by members of Parliament to pass the bill. And you remember, 275 of us supported the bill being passed.
“Then it got to a point where it had to be assented to by the President. The bill was transmitted to the President, but did not get to the President, and we were told that it was blocked along the line,” he explained.
He added that the issue was further delayed when the matter was taken to the Supreme Court for interpretation over whether the President should receive the bill at all.
“Unfortunately, the then government, which was the last administration, could not assent to it, so it did not form a law. Even though it was passed, it’s like you just died, and you are in the middle. You have not gotten to heaven, nor gone to hell. You are just in the middle,” Mr Bedzrah said.
Using a vivid metaphor, he likened the bill’s return to Parliament to a second chance at life.
“So God has decided that, okay, come back to the earth to do the right thing. So it’s back to us now. And fortunately, we came together to start a new life for the bill,” he said.
Mr Bedzrah expressed strong optimism that this time, the process will be completed without obstruction.
“I can tell you that from what people are saying, the bill will be passed again, and this time around, the President will assent to it,” he declared.
The Ho West MP’s assurance comes amid renewed debate on the fate of the controversial bill, which seeks to criminalise LGBTQ+ activities and promote what its sponsors describe as “proper human sexuality and family values” in Ghana.
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