Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has disclosed that the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2021, commonly referred to as the ‘anti-gay bill’, has not yet been sent to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his assent.
This clarification follows calls for President Akufo-Addo’s swift assent to the bill, amid concerns over attempts to delay its signing into law.
Afenyo-Markin disclosed that the bill remains within the legislative domain, currently undergoing the final stages of compilation by the drafting department of Parliament.
The Majority Leader explained the meticulous process involved in preparing the bill for presidential review, including the integration of several amendments made during the parliamentary debate.
“The Bill before passage by Parliament went through several amendments that have to be tidied up and presented to the Clerk for authentication and then to the Speaker for certification,” he explained.
Addressing concerns about perceived delays in the bill’s progression at the presidency, Afenyo-Markin emphasized the complexity of the compilation process due to the extensive changes made to the bill.
He said, “The drafting department is still compiling it, and I have been chasing it myself. They say it requires some time because a lot of changes were done.”
The Majority Leader sought to manage expectations regarding the timeline for the bill’s assent, stressing that the drafting department’s ongoing work is crucial for achieving a thorough and precise final draft.
Afenyo-Markin indicated that the sponsors of the bill have yet to review the completed draft pointing out that this step is essential before the Clerk to Parliament can authenticate the bill and forward it to the Speaker for certification.
“When all is done, I believe that you’ll be informed,” he added.
Nobody, he said, should sit somewhere counting days because the reckoning of time would only be triggered when President Akufo-Addo receives the Bill, calling for patience and understanding as the legislative body works to finalize the bill responsibly.
Meanwhile, the Majority leader has urged opponents of the Bill to text the issues raised on its status at the Supreme Court.
Ghana, he said, is a growing democracy and the anti-LGBTQ+ issue is not an emotional journey but about a law that has to do with the rights of citizens.
“The test here is whether or not a sexual right, which is in itself being brought to question, should lead to a criminal penalty.”
“How does this position stand in accord with the Constitution, and also the issues of advocacy? How do we juxtapose that within the context of the Constitution,” he quizzed.
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