Anti-LGBTQ+ bill is ready; we’ll present it this week – Sam George
Samuel Nartey George, Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, has stated that the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, which has been with parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee since last year, is now ready to be brought to the house for consideration.
His revelation comes as US Vice President Kamala Harris, who is on a trip of Africa, has advocated for respect for the human rights of LGBTQ+ persons.
In a joint press statement with President Akufo-Addo, she stated that the US views LGBTQ+ concerns to be human rights issues, and that any legislation that aims to inconvenience such persons will be rejected.
The Bill calls for jail time for those who participate in same-sex behaviors, as well as other forms of support for the LGBTQ+ community.
According to Sam George, the Attorney General has approved the bill in its existing form, thus there is no impediment to it being introduced in parliament for debate and ultimately passing into law.
“When we finished the deliberations, I asked the Attorney General a question if the bill in its current form infringes on the human rights of any Ghanaian, and he was happy with the bill. He was emphatic and stated that absolutely not. He wants me to tell the media that he supports the bill. The bill is expanding the frontiers of our legal jurisprudence. The Committee has finished deliberations, and it’s at the behest of the Chairman. So I believe that the final report of the Committee may be laid before the house rises,” Hon George sam said.
